Jones Act installation technology for offshore wind ‘ready for deployment’

Tests of the feeder technology were conducted at MARIN in The Netherlands. The company said they “demonstrated the BargeRack’s exceptional performance in challenging wave conditions.”

BargeRack is intended as a modular, safe and cost-effective feeder solution designed to comply with the requirements of the Jones Act. The concept underwent rigorous testing in wave heights of up to 2.5 m.

The results of the testing closely matched predictions from F&G’s simulations, validating the accuracy of their engineering models and the capability of the solution.

F&G chief naval architect Rick Rogers said, “We are extremely satisfied by the outcome of the model testing. BargeRack’s ability to lift the feeder barge in the design wave height while keeping the turbine components well within the manufacturer’s acceleration limits is testament to the design and engineering that went into its development.”

Completion of model testing brings F&G closer to commercializing the technology which, it believes, has several advantages over conventional feeder solutions, including reduced installation and capex costs, improved safety, significantly reduced project risk, greater flexibility and improved workability in harsh weather conditions.

BargeRack has already secured approval in principle from DNV and ABS. The concept promotes the use of the existing Jones Act-compliant tug and barge fleet. It enables direct lifting of wind turbine components from a fixed deck direct to foundation, eliminating redundant handling and streamlining installation processes.

The F&G concept has a removable side-mounted configuration with integrated deck skidding system, optimizing space utilization. It is engineered to accommodate most existing barges and designed to be scalable for retrofit applications on wind turbine installation vessels.

F&G director Todd Allen said, “We are excited to be one step closer to bringing this innovative solution to the market. The success of model testing reaffirms the significant benefit this technology can offer the offshore energy industry. The F&G team has worked closely with industry suppliers and fabricators to refine and ready the technology for deployment.”

F&G is now working with vessel owners to engineer the BargeRack retrofit onto existing vessels and incorporate its capabilities into next-generation vessels.