Ulstein Presents New Heavy Lift Jack-up for Offshore Wind

Ulstein has developed the J102 heavy lift jack-up as a fit-for-purpose, cost efficient and future proof wind turbine installation vessel. 

The new design is part of Ulstein’s X-Jack series of heavy lift jack-up designs.  

Four 15 MW Wind Turbines Per Round Trip

'Floating vessels we see as the preferred solution for foundation installation, where self-propelled jack-ups are the chosen tool for installing wind turbines,' says Ko Stroo, product manager at Ulstein Design & Solutions BV. 'With the Ulstein J102, we believe it is the closest one can get to an optimal, yet cost effective jack-up design. Using a high capacity crane of up to 2500 t and 160 m hook height above deck, the J102 design will allow contractors to efficiently carry and install four 15 MW wind turbines per round trip.'

Patented Lay-out

Key in the X-Jack design is its patented lay-out with a simple cruciform primary structure to achieve weight savings of ten to fifteen per cent and create the most direct load path during preload operations. 

Positioning the legs widely apart in a square pattern results in efficient use of available deck space, at the same time effectively counteracting the crane overturning moments. This set-up also creates more body around the legs, enabling the use of large spud cans to reduce loads on the seabed. 

Stronger Position in Offshore Wind

'The Ulstein X-Jack series is part of our strategy to complement our offshore wind design portfolio and strengthen our position as a long-term partner for supporting the offshore wind industry with sustainable and cost-efficient assets,' says Edwin van Leeuwen, managing director at Ulstein Design & Solutions BV.

Key Features X-Jack Series

The following key features characterize the X-Jack series:

• Kite-shaped hull allowing for large leg spacings.
• Main crane around stern leg on centreline.
• Cruciform primary structural arrangement superior to torsion box solution.
• No ballast water needed for lifting as the vessel is naturally balanced.
• Large spud cans, reducing bearing pressures on seabed.
• Vessel beam enables floating lift operations.
• Increased propulsion efficiency as wake of spud cans does not interfere with thruster inflow.

Main dimensions of the J102 heavy lift jack-up vessel design are:

• Length: 145.0 m
• Width: 88.4 m
• Depth: 11.0 m
• Complement: 120 POB
• Water depth: 65 m
• Free deck area: 6500 m2
• VDL: 10,500 t
• Wind turbine capacity: 8 x 8 MW / 4 x 15 MW
• Main crane: 2500 t @ 39 m / 1250 t @ 65 m
• Main hook height: 160 m above deck

X-Jack Series

The X-Jack series includes the smaller J101, tailored for maintenance and exchange of wind turbines and the larger J103, designed to carry and install six next generation wind turbines to realise even the world’s most remote wind farm locations. The entire X-Jack series have the patented lay-out.