Contract awarded for monopile installation technology for innovative newbuild

The deal – which is the largest single vessel contract secured to date by MacGregor – will see the company supply a monopile installation system. It is due to be delivered during Q4 2021.

The scope of supply includes engineering, procurement and construction of the monopile lifting, skidding and transfer system, which is an integral part of the installation process, undertaken by employing an upending tool and motion-compensated gripper frame.
The motion-compensated gripper frame will be closely interfaced with the vessel’s dynamic positioning (DP) and control system in an integrated solution developed jointly by MacGregor and Kongsberg Maritime.

The application of automated handling solutions will increase the safety, productivity and consistency of the installation operation, resulting in cost and time savings.

Alfa Lift is scheduled for delivery in 2021 and will be the world’s largest custom-built offshore wind foundation installation vessel. The vessel will have a 3,000-tonne main crane and 10,000m² ‘smart deck’ capable of transporting up to 14 XL monopiles per voyage.

The vessel is also unique among ships of its type in that it will be able to submerge the main deck to a depth of 14.66 m when installing monopiles.

Kongsberg Maritime SVP business concepts Gunnar Thorsen said: “Working closely with MacGregor, we have developed an innovative solution that improves the efficiency of foundation installation vessels by replacing lengthy, temporary mooring processes with full DP, in combination with an integrated guidance system and hydraulic frame mechanism.”

MacGregor head of offshore solutions Leif Byström said: “We have worked intensively over several years to develop a solution that provides the most precise installation method for monopiles.”