This Week in Offshore Wind: New Vessels and Industry Insights
This week at MarineLink…
A groundbreaking addition to the fixed-bottom offshore wind sector was unveiled this week with the delivery of the offshore installation vessel Boreas to Van Oord by Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore in China. The Boreas, once operational, will claim the title of the largest vessel of its kind, purpose-built for transporting and installing foundations and turbines up to 20MW capacity.
China’s Dongfang Electric is already in the process of constructing 26MW turbines, marking a trend towards larger projects that is spurring the demand for specialized, high-spec vessels like the Boreas.
Adding to the buzz this week, DeepOcean secured a charter contract for the high-spec subsea vessel Orient Adventurer. This vessel will be utilized globally for offshore wind maintenance and installation, as well as for top-tier inspection, maintenance and repair, construction, and decommissioning of offshore oil and gas infrastructure.
Multi-purpose vessels such as the Orient Adventurer are capable of working on both fixed wind and oil and gas ventures.
However, transitioning vessels to the floating wind segment may prove challenging, as highlighted by Philip Lewis, Research Director at Intelatus Global Partners, in the December 2024 edition of Maritime Reporter magazine.
The global commissioned floating wind capacity is projected to reach approximately 6GW by 2030 and around 50GW by 2035. Lewis emphasizes the lack of technically capable vessel supply to meet this surge in demand. He points out that investing in large, costly floating wind-specific vessels may not be the optimal solution due to potential underutilization during certain months of the year without long-term charter commitments.
According to Lewis, there is a stronger case for expanding large subsea vessel capabilities, offering flexibility to operate in both the oil and gas and offshore wind (fixed-bottom and floating) sectors. However, the specialized anchor handlers required for floating wind projects pose a more complex investment scenario. The technical requirements for floating wind projects differ significantly from those of traditional oil and gas undertakings, making it challenging to repurpose existing vessels efficiently.
Stay tuned for more exciting developments in the offshore wind industry as companies continue to innovate and adapt to meet the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions.