Introduction to Kongsberg Maritime’s Innovations

Kongsberg Maritime has unveiled a range of innovative methods designed to transform and industrialize the transportation and installation (T&I) of floating offshore wind turbines. These new solutions streamline the entire process, from anchor and mooring installation to electrical cable pull-in, ensuring that turbines are ready to be connected to energy grids. This comprehensive approach is part of Kongsberg Maritime’s broader strategic effort to contribute to the emerging floating offshore wind market, with more initiatives in the works MarineLink.

Gunnar Thorsen, Senior Vice President of Business Concepts at Kongsberg Maritime, highlights the significance of these innovations: “We aim to offer a full package of equipment and technology, from the point the floating turbines leave their assembly site to the moment they are connected to the power grid. Our new methods for anchor tensioning, mooring installation, tow-out, and cable pull-in will represent a big leap forward in the industrialization of floating wind installation. They are also applicable to other offshore energy structures, so our investment in these novel solutions will also be relevant and benefit oil and gas-related operations” Kongsberg Maritime.

Four key elements highlighted in this new offshore floating wind approach are:

• New vessel designs and methodology for anchor and mooring installation
• A new approach for towing turbines to site
• A new integrated tensioning concept for mooring lines
• An innovative cable pull-in system

New Vessel Designs for Efficient Anchor and Mooring Installation

Two new vessel concepts, specifically designed for large-scale mooring and installation operations, are key elements in the new novel solutions. The Floating Wind Installation Vessels (FWIVs) are designed to handle the unique challenges of transport and installation of floating wind turbines, as well as other offshore and subsea structures OEDigital.

The anchor handling version (UT 7900 FWIV AH) features a triple cross-tensioning winch system capable of tensioning and proof-loading up to three mooring lines simultaneously with significant reduction in bollard pull requirements. This vessel can pull up to 900 tonnes in a single fall configuration, ensuring efficient and safe anchor handling with reduced energy consumption Kongsberg Maritime.

The subsea construction vessel design concept (UT 7600 FWIV Subsea) is equipped with advanced systems for handling, storing, and deploying mooring elements, making it ideal for high-volume floating wind installations Kongsberg Maritime.

Tow Assist System to Enhance Towing Operations

To address the challenges of transporting giant turbines to offshore fields, Kongsberg Maritime has developed Tow Assist. This innovative approach combines Kongsberg Maritime’s leading-edge Dynamic Positioning (DP) technology with operational analysis to improve situational awareness, safety, and efficiency throughout all stages of the towing operation Kongsberg Maritime.

Tow Assist builds on the K-Pos DP system, enabling unpowered floating structures to become DP-enabled during complex towing operations by calculating and distributing the optimal allocation of the connected vessels. Successfully trialed in the North Sea last year, the Tow Assist system provides real-time situational awareness through graphical guidance for precise and efficient positioning, transforming the way floating offshore structures are moved and positioned OEDigital.

Integrated Tensioning for Simpler Hook-Up Operations

The Integrated Tensioning Concept is a solution designed to enhance the efficiency and safety of mooring line hook-up operations. This system compensates for relative movements between the floater and the vessel, significantly increasing the operational weather window and ensuring smoother operations Kongsberg Maritime.

The new concept utilizes Kongsberg Maritime’s advanced Permanent Magnet (PM) winches, known for their high torque and dynamic capabilities. These winches are a key component of the system, providing the responsiveness and motion compensation necessary for precise and efficient tensioning of mooring lines. The PM winches’ ability to handle large loads with rapid response makes them ideal for the challenging conditions of offshore operations Energy Global.

Innovative Cable Pull-In for Year-Round Operations

A new method for cable pull-in operations is a key element of Kongsberg Maritime’s end-to-end process by reducing requirements for equipment and people on the floater, enhancing safety and speeding up the overall rate of installation of the wind farm array Kongsberg Maritime.

Gunnar Thorsen adds: “At present, cable pull-in operations require mobilizing equipment such as winches, power packs, and fuel tanks on the floating turbine. Personnel must be on board the floater after it has been hooked up to perform the cable pull-in. However, with the new, patented method, all necessary equipment is placed on the vessel, significantly reducing the complexity and risk associated with the operation OEDigital.

“This new approach offers several advantages, including enhanced safety by reducing the number of people onboard the floater to a minimum during the pull-in operation. Equipment lifting operations and personnel transfer are minimized which allows operations to continue in harsher weather conditions. This is crucial for maintaining year-round productivity and speeds up the overall rate of installation of the wind farm array” MarineLink.

Conclusion

Kongsberg Maritime’s innovations in floating wind T&I solutions represent a significant stride towards making offshore wind energy more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective. By leveraging advanced technology and strategic planning, the company is poised to play a pivotal role in the growth of the floating offshore wind market. Future initiatives will likely focus on further refining these solutions and expanding their application to other sectors such as oil and gas operations.

Sources

• Kongsberg Maritime – Kongsberg Maritime unveils innovative solutions to industrialise floating offshore wind turbine installation
• MarineLink – Kongsberg Maritime Unveils Range of T&I Solutions for Floating Wind
• OEDigital – Kongsberg Maritime Unveils Range of T&I Solutions for Floating Wind
• Energy Global – Kongsberg Maritime Unveils Solutions to Industrialise Offshore Turbine Installation
• My News Desk – Kongsberg Maritime Unveils Innovative Solutions to Industrialise Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Installation