In yard a new generation of ships for the offshore wind field



Group ABB is pursuing the opportunities offered from the offshore wind field that demand innovative systems of propulsion for a new generation of ships in a position to installing turbines of greater dimensions in deeper waters and in more adverse atmospheric conditions.

From year to year - it has found the Helvetic company - the challenges in the offshore wind field grow: the wind parks are enlarged, the seas that accommodate them become deeper, the distance from the coast increases and is necessary more powerful turbines. Great part of these innovations is coming true to wide of the European coasts, in the Sea of the North, the Sea of Ireland and the Baltic Sea, where 21 of the 25 larger wind parks to the world is situated and where day after day new records of ability, depth of waters and distance from the mainland settle. These new challenges but - it has found ABB - involve an increment of requirement of the transport ships are for the installation of the turbines that for puts down it of the foundations of the wind parks offshore; these ships in fact must be able to transport a number of turbines in greater amount and greater dimensions, let alone to operate to higher depth and in hostile atmospheric conditions. In the same way, they must satisfy of requirement of efficiency in energetic terms, guaranteeing minimal the polluting impact on the marine atmosphere.

In this field ABB currently electrical worker for eight ships from wind installation under construction near yards in China is engaged in the supply of systems of propulsion, destined Indonesia, Singapore and South Korea and in great part to naval operators of the European seas, where in next the ten various years the realization of thousands of wind turbines is previewed. Between the more recent store clerks, ABB has received the assignment from the Samsung Heavy Industries South Korean for the realization of a boat with Blue revolutionary performances for Swire Ocean.

The ship of the Swire Blue Ocean will have a surface of exploitable bridge of 4.000 square metres and will be able to transport and to install turbines and foundations of any type and dimension. The support structure will be realized with six adjustable legs in height that will allow to operate until a depth of 75 meters. The ship will be delivered in June 2012 and the store clerk includes an option for a second unit with delivery in 2013. ABB will supply a system of integrated power Azipod CO, the propulsion electrical worker and propellers of maneuver that will allow with the ship to work with a precision in the order of the centimeters to depth of 75 meters and in any atmospheric condition, while the current ships can operate until a depth of 45 meters and solo in not extreme conditions.