OHT’s newbuild vessel foundation installation vessel Alfa Lift has been floated out from the drydock at China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) shipyard in Jiangsu, China
The specialist heavy installation vessel, which was designed and is being built to install next-generation XXL foundations for offshore wind turbines, was launched on 28 February 2021.
The innovative semi-submersible vessel will now be moored while work continues on steel and internal fit-out, including the mechanical completion of systems.
Key elements of Alfa Lift’s major crane components have been completed in Rostock, Germany. The heavy lift crane’s slewing column and the A-frame are scheduled to leave Rostock in early March and will arrive in China in April where they will be installed.
OHT head of vessel management Bjarne Birkeland said, “Construction has progressed well despite the challenging times. We would like to thank everyone at CMHI who has worked to ensure that we met the float-out milestone in a safe and timely manner, with work having continued through the recent Chinese New Year period.”
OHT chief executive Torgeir Ramstad said he had “no doubt” that Alfa Lift would be a very busy vessel for many years to come. The company is under contract to install the foundations for the Dogger Bank A and B projects in the UK. Alfa Lift is on schedule for delivery at the end of 2021/early 2022.
OHT also recently confirmed that the shipbuilding contract for its first wind turbine installation vessel, Vind 1, has become effective following issuance of a refund guarantee by CMHI’s bank and OHT’s payment of the first yard installment for the vessel.
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