New Dutch-designed crane vessel to support windfarm construction

Dutch naval architects GustoMSC has unveiled the first images of a new design of heavy-lift crane vessel optimised for the transport and installation of large structural components for offshore wind farms.

Each vessel in the series will feature scalable and fully customisable designs and a next-generation crane and deck mission equipment developed by other groups in the marine and construction business unit of GustoMSC parent company NOV.

The vessel will be 220 metres long and 55 metres wide and have 9,500 square metres of deck space. A 5,000-tonne-rated heavy lift crane with an increased load moment and lifting height will be in an optimised position to ensure efficiency and flexibility.

The vessel is designed around a combined upend hinge with a motion-compensated gripper that allows up to six XXXL monopiles to be loaded and transported in one trip. The draught will be optimised to be able to operate from common marshaling yards, and a foldable A-frame will allows mobilisation from many locations worldwide.

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