UPDATE
Burger Boat Books Order for Ferry Designed for Tough Winters
The NP20000X ULAM design is intended to be Jones Act compliant.
BURGER BOAT COMPANY’S MANITOWO C , W I S ., shipyard has started
ABS HAS AWARDED ITS APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE (AIP) for a hydrogen-ready
wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) design to Ned Project Inc., which is working with GPZ Energy to develop WTIV projects for the U.S. market. The NP20000X ULAM design is intended to be Jones Act compliant. It is also designed to be able to meet future offshore wind market demands, specifically operations involving 15-20 MW wind turbine installations. Its innovative approach loads monopiles vertically on the 8,000-square-meter deck, eliminating the need to rotate monopiles to the vertical position at sea, increasing efficiency and safety. The design is equipped with a leg encircling heavy cargo crane with a working load of 3,500 metric tons capable of handling turbines of 240-meter rotor diameter and 150-meter tower height. The enginerooms of the hydrogen-ready WTIV are designed to be able to be converted into fuel cell compartments accommodating polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, 12 Marine Log // October 2021
making it possible to rely solely on liquefied hydrogen (LH2) to meet its energy demands. “There is significant potential for growth in the U.S. offshore wind market and we are confident our WTIV design has the attributes required to deliver this,” said Peter Novinsky, spokesperson for GPZ Energy. “The scale, power and handling capacity as well as the innovative way it handles the monopiles means this is perfectly adapted to serve the U.S. industry.” “ABS is the ideal partner for a highly specialized wind turbine installation vessel such as this, both for the U.S. market and internationally,” said Greg Lennon, ABS vice president, offshore wind. “Our extensive knowledge of U.S. regulations combined with our global offshore industry leadership means we are uniquely equipped to support this project and a range of other innovative vessels now being commissioned to support the growing international demand for renewable energy. ABS is committed to playing a significant role in the safe development of the U.S. offshore wind industry.”
Neebish Islander III
Photo Credit: (Left) Ned Project; (Right) Seacraft Design
Jones Act Compliant WTIV Design is Hydrogen Ready
construction of a new 92-foot vehicle/ passenger ferry, the Neebish Islander III. Ordered by the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA), located in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., the ferry will operate year-round on the St. Mary’s River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula between Barbeau, Mich., and Neebish Island. It has been designed to operate in the harsh winter environment and through the solid ice conditions it will encounter on its route. Based on the experience of four previous commercial vessel designs built by this shipyard, we know that EUPTA will receive a first-class product from Burger Boat Company, and we look forward to collaborating once again,” said Mark Pudlo, president, Seacraft Design LLC, which designed the vessel. The Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority, established in 1975, operates three local vehicle and passenger ferries to the nearby islands of Sugar, Neebish, and Drummond. “We’re grateful to be selected by the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority to build their new vessel,” said Jim Ruffolo, president and CEO, Burger Boat Company. “At Burger, our team prizes collaboration, among each other and with our clients, to deliver vessels people can look upon with pride, year after year. Whether it’s a luxury yacht or a hard-working ferry for demanding conditions like those the Neebish Islander III will face, we are committed to delivering tailored, quality vessels that meet and exceed the owner’s vision.”
