C-Job Naval Architects will provide the Basic Design package for the new wind farm installation vessel ordered by DEME from COSCO (QiDong) Offshore in China.
The contract with COSCO follows C-Job’s recent conclusion of Orion’s Concept Design.
“The same team will be involved, so it is really a natural progression for us,” states C-Job Project Manager Rafael Novas Garcia . “We will be able to hit the ground running with this Basic Design.”
“Orion is a very advanced vessel with a lot of systems to integrate. It will be a challenging project, but a challenge that we will enjoy taking on.”
After the delivery in 2019, Orion will be mobilised by DEME’s subsidiary GeoSea for offshore wind farm installation activities.
To this end, the vessel’s DP3 capability and accommodation for up to 131 persons will both be valuable assets in performing offshore contracts, C-Job stated. The 216.5-metre vessel’s substantial loading and lifting capacities will also mean that GeoSea will be able to operate in the oil and gas industry and for the decommissioning of offshore installations.
According to C-Job Technical Manager Maarten Veldhuizen , Orion will be an extremely effective tool in the rapidly expanding offshore wind industry. “In terms of size and weight of foundations and turbine components, this sector is advancing fast,” Veldhuizen explains. “And what we are seeing is that jack-up installation vessels are reaching their limits in terms of vessel strength and payload capacity. The Orion’s technical specs will give her a future-proof position in the offshore wind turbine and foundation installation market.”
Orion’s crane is rated at 3,000 tonnes at more than 50 metres, with a lifting height in excess of 170 meters and a designation of HLC (Heavy-Lift Crane) 295000. Forward-thinking ship design
The vessel’s design also represents significant progress regarding on board environmental innovations, C-Job pointed out. With a Green Passport and Clean Design notation, the vessel will have dual fuel propulsion (diesel and LNG) and a waste heat recovery system.