VESSEL REVIEW | Boqiang 3060 – Chinese construction firm places large-capacity installation jackup into service

Chinese shipbuilder CIMC Raffles has handed over a new large jackup wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) to compatriot private offshore wind construction company Boqiang Heavy Industry.

The aptly named Boqiang 3060 (博强3060; "Broad Power 3060") was designed and built by CIMC Raffles in compliance to China Classification Society (CCS) rules as well as standards covering safe operation in Chinese waters, South-East Asian waters, and European waters particularly the North Sea. Management of the vessel will be delegated to V.Group subsidiary Seatec.

Greater capacity and efficiency over earlier vessels

The WTIV will be operated primarily in support of customers in the Chinese offshore wind market with its main role being the transport and installation of wind turbine generators (WTGs) of up to 20 MW capacity as well as their associated components. The vessel's typical deck cargo will initially consist of either eight 8MW turbines, four 12MW turbines, or three 16MW turbines pending the availability of the much larger 20MW units.

CIMC Raffles said Boqiang 3060 is the only vessel of its kind in China that is capable of transporting and installing WTG towers (i.e., the WTGs minus the blades) as single units. This means that WTGs can be installed in less time, as there would be fewer separate components that would need to be incorporated later on-site.

The WTIV has a length of 133 metres (436.3 feet), a beam of 53 metres (173.8 feet), a draught of six metres (19.6 feet), a depth of 11 metres (36 feet), a minimum displacement of approximately 30,000 tonnes (29,526 tons), and a total open deck area of 4,800 square metres (51,666 square feet) for carrying a variable load of up to 11,000 tonnes (10,826 tons). Key features include a DP2 system, a rotating deck crane with pile-driving capability and a maximum lifting capacity of 2,200 tonnes (2,165 tons), and two auxiliary cranes with 300-tonne (295-ton) and 50-tonne (49-ton) capacities, respectively.

Improved durability for sustained operations

The DP2 system and the main deck crane supplied by Huisman will enable installation of offshore components to be performed in water depths of up to 80 metres (262 feet) and under a broad range of weather and sea conditions, thus providing the operator with longer periods during which installation activities can be safely executed. The main deck crane is electrically-driven in fulfillment of Boqiang Heavy Industry's requirement for reduced emissions during installation activities.

The WTIV's four pile legs each have a length of 120 metres (393 feet) and can be extendable to 136 metres (446 feet) if needed. Each of the pile legs also has a rack plate thickness of 203 mm (eight inches), which CCS said ensures improved resistance to fatigue, wear, and impact damage.

The vessel's propulsion system is capable of reduced-carbon operations and can deliver a maximum speed of 8.4 knots.

Boqiang 3060 will initially be deployed to support the activities of Chinese utility company Huadian Heavy Industries under a contract with a firm period of three years plus options for an additional three years.