GustoMSC’s new ENSIS heavy-lift crane vessel series addresses the needs of the growing offshore wind foundation market. With monopiles and jackets increasing in size and weight and the continuous need for efficiency in installation, the ship design company felt a new generation of vessels is needed.
Based on an integrated design approach, the ENSIS series features scalable and fully customisable designs and next-generation crane and deck mission equipment developed by other groups in NOV’s Marine & Construction business unit. GustoMSC has been a part of NOV since 2018.
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5000-tonne crane
The ENSIS 5000 design is the largest of the series so far. GustoMSC’s advanced engineering analysis of motions, dynamic positioning, mooring and the installation process and its requirements guided the design as well as the mission equipment development.
The highly robust heavy-lift crane vessel is about 220 metres long and 55 metres wide, with 9500 m2 of deck space. A 5000-tonne-rated heavy-lift crane with an increased load moment and lifting height is in an optimised position to balance efficiency and flexibility.
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The vessel is designed around a combined upend hinge with a motion-compensated gripper that allows the ENSIS 5000 to take up to six XXXL monopiles in one trip. These capacities exceed present capabilities in the market. The draught is optimised to be able to operate from common marshalling yards, and a foldable A-frame allows mobilisation around the world.
According to GustoMSC, the latest energy-saving, reclamation, and storage solutions and new or alternative fuels are ready to be incorporated into the ENSIS 5000.
Smaller designs
The ENSIS 3000 and ENSIS 4000 designs are based on the same principles and expertise as the ENSIS 5000, but are developed to address particular challenges or showcase specific possibilities. The ENSIS 3000 is a compact design that efficiently installs smaller monopiles, pin-piles, or suction anchors, while the ENSIS 4000 offers opportunities for the evolving US market and Jones Act-compliant vessels.
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