Damen ARNO Dunkerque, part of the Damen Shiprepair and Conversion Group, has given a new set of "feet" to one of the world's first purpose-built offshore wind turbine installation and maintenance vessels, the 2003-built 'Resolution'.
The yard has carried out upgrades on the feet (or "spudcans") of the jack-up vessel's six legs to give them the additional strength needed to withstand huge loads when spudding on rocky seabeds.
The operation involved strengthening the spudcans through the use of the sandwich plate system (SPS). Developed by United Kingdom-based Intelligent Engineering, SPS is a composite building material comprising two metal plates bonded with a polyurethane elastomer core.
In the case of the 'Resolution', the original 40-millimetre steel plating on the spudcans was bonded with a 40-millimetre layer of polyurethane elastomer to a second 40-millimetre high-strength steel plate.
Damen ARNO Dunkerque carried out the steel work in collaboration with Intelligent Engineering in an operation that coincided with the vessel's 10-year survey and drydocking, as well as extensive refitting operations. The operation was completed in a month.
MPI Offshore fleet manager Dave Galloway said that the upgrade of the spudcans had become necessary to enable the 'Resolution' to work on the Humber Gateway wind farm project currently under construction off the east coast of England.
Damen ARNO Dunkerque, previously ARNO Dunkerque, is one of the more recent additions to the Damen Shiprepair and Conversion Group, which took it over in December 2012. It was designated by the group as the yard best suited to carry out the 'Resolution' contract.
The 'Resolution' is a jack-up vessel measuring 130 metres in length and 38 metres in breadth. During construction operations, the vessel is transformed into a stable work platform, clear of the surface of the sea, through the use of a hydraulic jacking system. This system raises the vessel at a rate of 0.5 metres per minute.
The 'Resolution' is equipped with both 600-tonne and 50-tonne cranes, and has accommodation for up to 30 crew and 40 installation personnel.