COSCO Shipping Shipyard in Nantong, China, has handed over a new wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) to the marine works provider the Jan De Nul Group.
The Bureau Veritas-classed Voltaire is the largest jackup installation vessel in the Jan De Nul fleet, measuring 179.5 by 60 metres and with a gross tonnage of 44,781 and single cabin accommodations for 100 crewmembers. Its main crane has a lifting capacity of over 3,000 tonnes, which will enable it to lift and install both current and future wind turbine components. The main crane is fitted with a universal quick connector developed by Huisman.
Four giant legs measuring 130 metres long each will support the vessel to achieve stable working conditions at water depths up to 80 metres and with an elevated load of 16,000 tonnes. A flight deck can meanwhile accommodate 10-tonne utility helicopter.
Compared to Jan De Nul's other jackup vessel Vole au Vent, Voltaire boasts nearly double the deck space.
The diesel propulsion drives four 3,000kW azimuthing thrusters to deliver a speed of 11.5 knots. Jan De Nul said the propulsion system may also be configured to run on second-generation biodiesel that reduces the vessel's fuel carbon footprint by as much as 90 per cent.
Voltaire is also equipped with an advanced dual exhaust filter system, which Jan De Nul claims can remove up to 99 per cent of nanoparticles from emissions using a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and reducing the NOx emissions and other pollutants by means of a selective catalytic reduction system (SCR) to levels in accordance with EU Stage V regulation.
The vessel will also be available for platform decommissioning on behalf of customers in the oil and gas sector.
Voltaire is presently deployed on its first project at the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm in UK waters 130 kilometres off the Yorkshire coast, where it is providing transport and installation services. Installation of the wind farm's 277 14MW turbines will take place in water depths between 20 and 35 metres. When complete, Dogger Bank will generate enough energy to power over 4.5 million homes every year, or around five per cent of the UK's electricity needs.
| Voltaire | |
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| Type of vessel: | Jackup installation vessel |
| Classification: | Bureau Veritas |
| Flag: | Luxembourg |
| Owner: | Jan De Nul Group, Luxembourg |
| Builder: | COSCO Shipping Shipyard, China |
| Length overall: | 179.5 metres |
| Beam: | 60 metres |
| Draught: | 7.5 metres |
| Depth: | 14.6 metres |
| Deadweight tonnage: | 21,500 |
| Gross tonnage: | 44,781 |
| Capacity: | 16,000 tonnes |
| Propulsion: | 4 x 3,000 kW; 2 x 2,600 kW |
| Generators: | 4 x 3,535 kW; 4 x 2,650 kW; 3 x 6,600 V; 600 kW |
| Side thrusters: | 2 x 2,600 kW |
| Crane: | Huisman |
| Other equipment installed: | Dual exhaust filter system |
| Type of fuel: | Diesel |
| Accommodation: | Cabins |
| Crew: | 100 |
