logistics & operations

This week, Heerema’s newest vessel Sleipnir will begin her maiden voyage. Sleipnir, the world’s largest and strongest semi-submersible crane vessel (SSCV) was built in Singapore and will set course for Spain. The trip will take about 45 days.

Only 7 days were needed for A1 Offshore Solutions ApS and SMST between contract signing and mobilization of the SMST motion compensated gangway on board the Eurus Express. The Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) is now equipped to safely transfer technicians from vessel to transition piece in the Hornsea Project One offshore wind farm. A great effort by all parties involved.

Damen Shipyards has awarded SMST a contract for the delivery of an Access & Cargo Tower and 3D Motion Compensated Crane for the new build Service Operation Vessel (SOV) of Bibby Marine Services. The SMST equipment helps Bibby to safely transfer their maintenance personnel and cargo from their Damen-built SOV to the offshore wind turbines. The vessel, sister ship to the Bibby WaveMaster1, will operate for EnBW and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy in the offshore wind farms Hohe See and Albatros.

As from early October last year the Safeway motion compensated offshore access system of the Dutch Van Aalst Group is installed on the 95-metre long OCV ‘Olympic Intervention IV’, owned by Olympic Subsea ASA, Norway. Without any significant downtime, the 28 m long walk-to-work Seagull-type has safely transferred workers and their tools at a high pace from the ‘Olympic Intervention IV’ to offshore wind turbines of Adwen, part of Siemens.

Newly formed RanaWorks B.V. introduces an innovative concept to the market of inspection, repair and maintenance in the North Sea offshore wind market. The concept evolves around the seamless integration of subsea and above waterline services in order to achieve the best value for money without compromising safety and quality.

The offshore wind farm "Vikings" has for the first time fed electricity into the grid. After installation and interim commissioning of the last of 70 Adewen turbines, this is the next important milestone achieved. The wind farm "Vikings" is Iberdrola’s first offshore wind farm in Germany. The company has invested 1.4 billion euros in the project.

Ampelmann, the global leader in offshore access solutions, has created, in cooperation with Seaway Heavy Lifting, an industry first innovation allowing workers safe and efficient access to install the jackets for 84 wind turbines on the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Limited project in the Outer Moray Firth.

Altitec, the global blade inspection and maintenance specialist, has completed lightning damage inspection and repairs at the 504 MW Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm, as part of its maintenance work at the site.

German energy utility EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG will build a service hub for its offshore wind farms in the North Sea on an airfield in Emden. The construction of the two-storey building with office and social rooms and a storage hall for spare parts and tools is scheduled to start in the spring of 2018.

SMST has been awarded a contract for the delivery of an Access & Cargo Tower to Spanish shipyard Astilleros Zamakona Bilbao. The Access & Cargo Tower, that combines a gangway and elevator for the handling of personnel and cargo from the vessel's warehouse to the wind turbine, will be installed on Esvagt's new Service Operation Vessel (SOV), that will perform wind farm maintenance work in offshore wind farm Deutsche Bucht for MHI Vestas.