Norwegians to develop next-gen turbine installation vessel

Ocean Installer and Vard are entering into a partnership to develop a vessel for the installation of future offshore wind turbines.

The vessel will be able to install giant offshore wind turbines weighing more than 1,000 tones at a height of over 150 meters above sea level, the parties said.

“We will jointly be developing one of the world’s most advanced vessels for installation of future offshore wind turbines, which are too large for the existing turbine installation fleet,” said Erik Haakonsholm, General Manager of Vard Group Offshore & Specialized Vessels.

“This ship is expected to be highly attractive for construction of big international wind farms in the coming years.”

Odd Strømsnes, CEO of Ocean Installer, said that the company is already prequalified for certain large offshore wind projects and is participating in tenders in the U.S. and Europe for both Norwegian and international energy companies.

“We currently have high expertise and solid revenues from oil and gas, and these resources are now dedicated to establish us as a leading player within the offshore wind space,” said Strømsnes.

To lead the initiative, Ocean Installer recruited several people from the sector, including Even Larsen, former CEO of Fred Olsen Ocean, and Olav Hetland, former Senior Vice President for offshore wind power at Statkraft.