Edda Wind turns to MacGregor for all-electric walk-to-work systems

Two of the equipment packages were awarded by shipbuilder Astilleros Gondán for Edda Wind’s commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs), the first of which will enter into a firm charter for a period of 11 years starting in Q1 2022.

Each of the CSOVs will be equipped with a MacGregor ‘Horizon’ all-electric walk-to-work gangway which will include what the supplier said is the largest integrated passenger lift ever fitted to a wind service vessel.

In addition to enabling windfarm technicians to access the walk-to-work system, the elevator will also be connected to a Colibri 5-tonne 3D motion-compensated crane. Both will be controlled from a single operator station, enable the operator to seamlessly change between controlling the crane and gangway.

The other two equipment packages were awarded by Astilleros Balenciaga, which is building Edda Wind’s ‘second generation’ SOVs. The first of these vessels will enter into service on a 15-year charter in Q2 2022 and will also be equipped with a Horizon all-electric walk-to-work gangway and 3-tonne Colibri 3D motion-compensated crane.

Although smaller than the CSOVs, the SOVs will be able to provide access to turbines and other structures to a height of up to 34 m above sea level, due to the novel design of the Horizon system, which is specifically tailored to Edda Wind’s requirements. These vessels will also benefit from having a centralised control station located close to the dynamic positioning operator’s position on the bridge.

The Horizon walk-to-work gangway and Colibri 3D cranes are products brought into the MacGregor portfolio through the acquisition of TTS in 2019.

MacGregor head of offshore solutions Leif Byström said the company now has a total of six walk-to-work systems and five 3D motion-compensated cranes at various stages of completion.