PORT, HARBOUR & MARINE CONSTRUCTION PORT TRIPLES OFFSHORE WIND POTENTIAL WITH AI

Port Esbjerg in Denmark says its become the first port in the world to use a digital twin to calculate efficient methods for developing offshore wind installations

The digital tool developed by Moffatt & Nichol will have a dramatic effect on the port’s wind capacity, as the port will be able to triple its annual shipping capacity for offshore wind installations from 1.5 GW to 4.5 GW, without expanding.

“Working with the digital twin is a gamechanger. We can make much better decisions using that tool. It means that we can triple our capacity at Port Esbjerg without expanding by a single square metre,” said Jul Pedersen, CEO, Port of Esbjerg.

Using big data

The digital twin is fed huge amounts of data, enabling it to analyse all port processes related to the shipping of offshore wind installations, using a 1:1 simulation of the port.

Data includes everything from storage locations of wind components and space requirements to the impact of high tide and much more. In this way, all processes are optimised.

“[This] could play a huge role in the deployment of wind installations across the whole of Europe in the coming years. There’s a lack of space at most wind ports in Europe, so we need to pull the ports out of our spreadsheets and create more digital twins instead,” said Pedersen.

Working with digital twins to optimise, for example, container operations is nothing new.

8 Port Esbjerg in Denmark says its become the first port in the world to use a digital twin to calculate efficient methods for developing offshore wind installations

Port capacity is one of the greatest challenges to the green transition. The pace must be stepped up significantly to reach the European offshore wind targets of at least 65 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and 340 GW by 2050.

However, the deployment of wind installations tends to be more complex than other port processes, so optimising the design of these processes is extra important. There are many activities going on at the same time which adds extra pieces to an already complicated puzzle.

Expanding capacity at Esbjerg will include the rebuilding of various access roads.

£millions committed to harbour and ferry upgrades

An award-winning ferry terminal has opened its doors after major works were completed on the remote Isle of Harris in the Scottish Outer Hebrides.

Owned by CMAL (Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited), a harbour development project consisting of a new pier, fendering system and enlarged marshalling area had to be put in place while lifeline ferry operations continued. The redevelopment won a Scottish Civil Engineering Marine Infrastructure Award last November.

”The work to redevelop the harbour and terminal building began in 2019 – and had to pause during the global pandemic,” said Ramsay Muirhead, director of Port Infrastructure & Planning. ”As soon as we were able to resume work safely, we did; and it is testament to the hard work of our contractors and the patience of the local community that we are now able to welcome passengers to the new terminal.”

The terminal is just a tiny part of a £580 million commitment from the Scottish Government over a five-year period up to 2026, which aims to deliver 21 vessels for the fleet and major upgrades to harbour infrastructure over the next decade. The works, across 26 harbours, will entail slipway reconstruction and widening, pier and fender repairs, lighting upgrades and safety measures.

“Our team has decades of marine, civil, construction and mechanical engineering, ship design and naval architecture experience,” says CMAL CEO Kevin Hobbs. “We’re confident, with the required level of funding and commitment, our plans can be delivered in the next 10 years to ensure island and rural communities remain connected and their economies are supported.”