Products
Self-elevating Vessel
Der Bug des Errrichterschiffes wird von einem Schlepper gezogen.
BARD Engineering GmbH uses its own self-elevating vessel “Wind Lift I” with a jack-up system and heavy-lifting crane on board to build and operate “BARD Offshore I” wind farm, as well as to provide its service and maintenance.
“Wind Lift I”, being the core of all installation activities, makes us independent from unfavourable weather conditions and the corresponding costs involved. It can carry the foundation assembly or a turbine with a tower, nacelle and rotor. “Wind Lift I” is equipped with a template to install a transition piece and foundation piles.
There is a limited number of shipping companies which can provide such type of vessels. The available barges need to be adjusted for installation of 5 MW WECs. In summer when weather conditions are favourable for crane operation, such barges are in great demand and are very expensive.
GustoMSC presents models of the "Wind Lift I" and the "BARD 5.0" at the EOW 2007.
We made a final and binding decision not to rent any crane vessel to be sure that BARD will be able to install between 40 and 80 WEC per year starting from 2009. The vessel of our own makes us flexible and provides for the required time period to install and operate our wind farms.
Installation procedures are divided into two phases: in summer, when the winds are not strong, it is possible to erect towers, nacelles and rotors. Foundation installation is less dependent on storms and waves. So it can be carried out throughout the whole year. The above three foundation piles and a transition piece are brought to the site by means of pontoons. The main crane lifts the piles and a transition piece onto “Wind Lift I” which is supported by its four legs in a jack-up position. The deck shall be elevated to more than 10 m above the water level. “Wind Lift I” can operate at water depths of up to 40 m.
| „BARD Wind Lift I“ - Technical data | |
|---|---|
| Length over all | 101.80 m |
| Breadth | 36 m |
| Draft | 3.5 m |
| Water depth for jacking up | 45 m |
| Payload | approx. 2,600 t |
| Accommodation | 50 Personen |
| Main Crane | |
| Height above maindeck | 121 m |
| Capacity | 500 t @ 31 m |
The jack-up system can operate with wave heights of more than 3 m and at wind speed – 7 grades at Beaufort scale in a stable working environment. The template with a gripper is located at the stern. The template provides for exact positioning of foundation piles. The gripper is operated hydraulically. It holds the piles and does not allow them to deflect with cm accuracy. The crane picks up the piles and directs them through the gripper to be further driven into the sea bed. The piles penetrate the sand by means of their own weight to a more than 2 m depth. A specific 275 t hydraulic hammer mounted on the crane rams the piles into the sea bed to a depth of 30 m.
The functional model of the "Wind Lift I" in the wave channel of the Technical University Berlin.
We are going to enjoy the benefits of “Wind Lift I” for maintenance or repairs, as well as nacelle replacement, within many years of the wind farm operation. The main crane has a lifting capacity of up to 500 t and the outreach of 31 m. So it can lift the cargo to more that 110 m sea level. With lower water depths, the lifting height can be increased. Such a vessel will be used to install new generation WECs offshore.
“Wind Lift I” is equipped with a helideck for personnel transfer and provides for complement of 50 people on board. The draft is 3.5 m. So, the vessel “Wind Lift I” can load heavy duty cargo in the port and operate all year round.