SeaOwls and Ulstein have launched a pioneering heavy lift jack-up vessel design, the Soul.
The design was unveiled at the Offshore Wind Journal Conference on 7 February.
Next Generation Wind Turbines
The cruciform structural lay-out makes the patent-pending solution more than ten per cent lighter than conventional jack-up vessel designs. In combination with a high capacity crane, the concept aims to install the next generation wind turbines (10-12 MW) in the same time frame as currently used for installing 6-8 MW units, a significant efficiency gain over any jack-up vessel design currently available in the market.
Scaling-up conventional heavy lift jack-up vessel designs proves challenging due to the disproportional weight increase compared to gain in Variable Deck Load (VDL). This created uncertainty on how to install the future generation wind turbines, as floating vessels are not a viable alternative.
Optimal Jack-up Design
Erik Snijders, founder and managing director at Rotterdam-based SeaOwls: 'We went back to the optimal jack-up design, a square platform with the legs spaced out as much as possible. Rotating the platform by 45 degrees provided a natural bow shape with two legs and the crane on vessel centre line.'
'This seemingly simple twist in the design allowed to make a huge improvement in operational aspects as well,' adds Bram Lambregts, deputy managing director at Ulstein Design & Solutions BV. 'With the main crane around the stern leg, optimal main deck reach and over-the-side lifting capabilities is created. And as the hull now houses much larger leg footings, bearing pressures on the seabed are reduced, while the wake of the spud cans does not interfere with the inflow to the propulsion thrusters.'
Soul Series
The Soul series will come in various sizes, allowing the transport of three up to six of the 10-12 MW wind turbines. Still, all loading and installation operations can be performed without the need of ballast water.
