23 minute read
Big boom in 2023
Hugo Bouvy, managing director of DEME Offshore
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Offshore NL spoke with Hugo Bouvy, managing director of DEME Offshore, and looked back on a year that was full of exciting announcements. At the time of this interview the world seemed almost ‘back to normal’, but it cannot be denied that the impact of COVID-19 and its unprecedented effects, have been huge. Business as usual seems definitively to have become a thing of the past. The number of physical meetings will certainly increase again, but some will be replaced by Teams meetings for ever.
Hugo Bouvy: “So much has changed in the past year: the world around us, our family life, personal friendships, our social life, our business experience, and the place where we work, which many of us also call home. Living in the midst of COVID-19 has sparked fear, frustration and anxiety everywhere. Also within the ranks of DEME Offshore.”
Lifeblood
Looking back at 2021, DEME Offshore has become an even stronger and more stable market leader, thanks to innovative entrepreneurship and by striving for synergy within the Group. Bouvy: “Clients sometimes ask me why DEME Offshore is performing so well. My answer is always: our people are the best there are. They are the lifeblood of DEME Offshore. Both at sea and on land. They know that they have to work as a team and they know how to implement that team concept in the operational execution of a project. It is with thanks to that mindset that DEME Offshore can successfully overcome any challenge.”
Dedication
The managing director of Dutch origin is convinced that DEME Offshore’s in-depth operational knowledge and expertise are decisive factors in the Group’s reputation on the international renewables market. “The main reason is that time and again we have proven that we understand the art of meeting our delivery agreements. No matter how challenging a project is, we still deliver on time, even in the face of the global COVID pandemic, that has for caused such difficulties over the past few months. We stand out from the competition thanks to our track record. For me, the successful completion of the highly competitive Moray East project was one of the star achievements in 2021. Another more recent example is the drilling of the monopiles on the Saint Nazaire project. These performances have been achieved in record time and represent modern-day feats of innovative engineering. In SaintNazaire not only were we the first to install a wind farm, in rock, using industry-first technology; the project has also been carried out in the face of harsh Atlantic conditions, by our own installation vessel Innovation. This and several other projects completed by DEME Offshore have demonstrated that COVID-19 has almost no impact on our operational capabilities at sea; we have shown in 2021 that we are excellently capable of fully managing the disruptive consequences of COVID-19. For wind farm developers, the key lies in operating with a contractor they can
rely on. DEME Offshore is fortunate to have such a team of dedicated employees.”
Highlights
The absolute commercial highlight in 2021 was the signing of the Dominion contract. In financial terms, this +Euro 1 Billion Balance of Plant (BoP) contract for the construction of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project is the largest contract DEME Offshore has ever signed. Involving the transport and installation of 176 monopile transition piece foundations, three offshore substations, scour protection and the supply and installation of export and interarray submarine cable systems, the agreement is the largest offshore wind installation contract ever awarded in the USA. Hugo Bouvy: “This contract truly represents an absolute breakthrough for DEME Offshore in the wind sector in the USA, and can be fully credited to Jan Klaassen, Director of DEME Offshore US LCC, Sid Florey, President of DEME Offshore US together with his American team, and, of course, our partner Foss Maritime.”
In 2021 and early 2022 the same team signed and sealed contracts with Vineyard Wind for the transportation and installation of the monopiles, transition pieces and wind turbine generators for its Vineyard Wind 1 project and for the installation of an offshore electrical substation foundation and platform. A third contract concluded in the US involves the cable installation for New York’s first offshore wind farm South Fork.
Non-renewables
So far we have only talked about renewables; but non-renewables is another market segment in which DEME Offshore has an international reputation to maintain. How would you describe the level of activity in this sector? “Moneywise the level of activity differs significantly from the renewables market,” admitted Bouvy, “but we managed to achieve a reasonably healthy occupancy rate for all our fall pipe vessels. We have also undertaken rock-installation projects in the North Sea and in the
Gulf of Mexico, and executed a series of landfall projects. And we are also heavily involved in the Hinkley Point C nuclear powerplant project in the UK. That alone is an extensive proposition.”
Global scale
Offshore wind is a rapidly maturing, climate-friendly energy technology that is poised to play an important role in future energy systems. It is set to expand strongly over the coming decades and it is DEME Offshore’s objective to provide the state-of-the-art installation technology solutions needed for this green power revolution, on a global scale. Currently under construction at CSBC in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the installation vessel Green Jade will be immediately deployed for the Hai Long and Zhong Neng Offshore Wind Projects after entering service.
And mid-January DEME has entered into an agreement with Norwegian shipping company Eidesvik to acquire DP3 offshore installation vessel Viking Neptun. Built with one turntable capable of handling 4,500 tonnes of cables below deck, DEME will further boost Viking Neptun’s capacity by adding a second, 7,000 tonne cable turntable on deck.
The addition of the vessel in the last quarter of 2022 is in line with DEME’s strategy to deploy the most versatile and high-tech fleet in the industry. DEME already operates the pioneering, DP3 cable installation vessel Living Stone, renowned as one of the fastest and most efficient vessels in the cable installation sector. Hugo Bouvy commented: “After securing the Dogger Bank A and B inter-array cable contract early 2021, mid-December we could also confirm the inter-array cable contract for the Dogger Bank C wind farm. This contract not only demonstrates the unrivalled cablelaying capabilities by our DEME Offshore team, it is also further testament to the stellar reputation of our DP3 cable installation vessel Living Stone.”
Other exciting news is that the brand new installation vessel Orion will be deployed for the first time in Q2 this year on the Arcadis Ost 1 project in the German sector of the Baltic Sea.
When it comes to renewables, DEME Offshore was primarily operating in the North Sea but has now grown into a well-respected international player, with local partners. Hugo Bouvy explained: “Over the past two years we have entered into partnerships with reputable companies in countries that have indicated their support for the development of offshore wind farms. As previously mentioned, we are currently working together with CSBC in Taiwan, we have established a partnership with Foss Maritime in the USA, and in April 2021, we entered into a joint venture with Penta Ocean in Japan. For the growth market around the Baltic Sea, we have deployed a manager from Poland to act as our frontline player. We present ourselves worldwide as a market leader, while our local partners converse at an early stage with various local parties, on a daily basis. These discussions are of course supported by our experts, who deliver a convincing technical back story.”
Big Boom
Although the order books for all units are fairly well filled for 2022, in Hugo Bouvy’s opinion, the big boom will truly come in 2023. “We are almost completely full for that year, and the same applies for 2024 and 2025. In view of the number of new projects that have been and still are to be announced, we expect no real change for 2026, 2027 and 2028.”
Two successful ScotWind bids
Mid-January, 2022, Crown Estate Scotland announced that Thistle Wind Partners (TWP), a consortium of DEME Concessions (Wind) NV (42,5%), Qair Marine SAS (42,5%), and Aspiravi International NV (15%), had been awarded 2GW worth of option areas in Scotland’s highly competitive ScotWind seabed leasing process.
The consortium’s successful projects are:
Cluaran Deas Ear: a 1 GW fixed foundation project in the 187 km2 E3 plan option area;
Cluaran Ear-Thuath: a 1 GW floating foundation project in the 201 km2 NE2 plan option area which is envisaged to be developed in two phases.
Pictures: Van der Kloet, Holland.
chapeau Offshore Wind Installation in U.S.
Creating supply chain opportunities
Meeting the U.S. offshore wind target of 30 GW installed capacity by 2030 will present significant supply chain opportunities. For example, new port upgrade investments could total more than $500 million; new U.S. factories could be built for major windfarm components; additional cumulative demand of more than 7 million tons of steel-equivalent to 4 years of output for a typical U.S. steel mill; and the construction of specialized wind turbine installation vessels (WTIVs) in U.S. shipyards.
Developing Charybdis
The construction of the Charybdis WTIV is an important step, led by a major developer in Dominion Energy and supported by a consortium of renowned naval engineering and fabrication firms. Dominion Energy is presently working on a 2.6 GW project in Virginia to be built in three phases in 2024-2026 and expects the vessel to be fully utilized on a pipeline exceeding 5 GW of U.S. offshore wind construction through 2027. By making this investment, Dominion Energy will secure availability of the installation asset, minimizing project risk. In addition, the vessel is available for charter when not occupied in Dominion’s own projects and has already received a first contract for Ørsted-Eversource’s Revolution and Sunrise Wind projects for a total of 1.6 GW of turbine installations. The Charybdis is likely to enter service in 2023, based out of the Hampton Roads region of Virginia.
Jones Act-compliant vessel
The vessel is a GustoMSC NG-16000X-SJ design being built at Keppel AmFELS, Brownsville, Texas, a subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine. Seajacks, a subsidiary of Eneti, is assisting Dominion Energy with construction and operations oversight. The concept of the four-legged, self-propelled jack-up WTIV evolved over time as a solution of choice to both efficiently transport and safely install offshore wind turbines from a stable platform while minimizing downtime but needs to comply with the Jones Act. The Jones Act is a federal law that regulates maritime commerce in the U.S. and requires goods shipped between U.S. ports to be transported on ships that are U.S. built, owned, and operated. For the purposes of the Jones Act, a bottom founded (fixed) wind turbine foundation is considered a U.S. port.
With turbines of 15+ MW on the horizon later this decade many WTIV owners have selected designs from the GustoMSC series as a basis, in particular the NG-14000XL, NG-16000X and NG-20000X designs. NG stands for Next Generation (self-propelled and DP), the numeral (e.g., 14,000) represents the load in tonnes applied to each leg during pre-driving and X indicates a truss leg with X-bracing (a robust structural configuration).
To better understand the scale of these vessels, below you see the comparison of the Seajacks Scylla (NG-14000XL design) with one of the largest jack-up drilling units in operation, the Noble Lloyd Noble (CJ70 design). The deck area, DP and propulsion capability, fast jacking, and the ability to repeatedly preload to very large loads distinguish the WTIV vessel from a drilling rig. In fact, the deck area of a WTIV can exceed that of a football field and while preloading each of its legs and jacking system sees loads that far exceed the weight of the Eiffel tower (approximately 10,000 tonnes) or the thrust of a Saturn V rocket (approximately 3,500 tonnes). This is not just done once but multiple times, since a WTIV is designed to move as well as jack up and down 150 times per year.
Pioneering engineering
As part of the project risk mitigation strategy, Keppel AmFELS and GustoMSC performed significant engineering prior to signing the construction contract. These activities included model testing, noise and vibration analysis, and leg material welding procedures and qualifications. The results together with the engineering design drawings were submitted to ABS for review at an early stage of the project. In addition, Keppel AmFELS worked closely with major equipment suppliers to ensure key activities were performed prior to contract.
The overall project cost, inclusive of construction and commissioning and excluding financing costs, is estimated to be around USD 500 million, creating nearly 700 direct construction jobs for skilled workers, and utilize more than 14,000 tons of domestic steel, with nearly 10,000 tons sourced from Alabama and West Virginia suppliers. Supported by an efficient design, highly-skilled local workforce, state-ofthe-art equipment and reliable suppliers across the U.S., Keppel AmFELS is confident in delivering a high-quality vessel to Dominion Energy safely, cost-effectively and on time.
The insights and experience gained with the concept development, design, and construction of Charybdis, will benefit the next generation turbine installations in the U.S. and worldwide, and promote the collaboration of future wind turbine supply chain development.
At this moment, the entire maritime sector contributes to around 2.2% of the global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The U.N.’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) has defined a target for the entire industry to emit 70% less emissions in 2050, compared to 2008. To achieve this goal, we as the maritime industry have to integrate sustainable powerplants in new build vessels and design solutions to improve today’s operational fleet. Vessels that are built at this moment are likely to remain in operation until 2050. IMO’s defined sustainability ambition applies to all major vessels, including the international offshore and dredging industry.
Today’s challenges for tomorrow’s fleet
New build vessels currently last up to 30 years. This means current designs and new build vessels already have to take the zero emission future into account. But how do you prepare the powerplant of your vessel for future technologies? In addition, what are the major technical issues dredging and offshore companies face today?
Bakker Sliedrecht helps shipbuilders and owners with these challenges by providing sustainable technologies in the field of alternative energy carriers and fuels, digital monitoring and maintenance.
A global maritime effort
OEM’s, research institutes and universities worldwide are currently developing different technologies to
generate or store renewable energy. Developments in technologies such as DC-grids and hydrogen seem very promising to reduce the environmental footprint of vessels. Due to the rapid succession of developments, the flexibility of adapting new (sustainable) technologies during the total lifespan of a vessel is of crucial importance.
Efficient and modular use of new technologies
Bakker Sliedrecht introduces the Energy Storage Solution (ESS) to meet this demand of flexibility of the powerplant. The ESS is a modular hybrid energy solution that enables existing ships to be made ready for the use of sustainable energy carriers and generators with only limited intervention. The modular solution is packaged in an ‘easy to transport’ 20-40ft container that can be directly connected to the on-board energy network. The ESS can easily be connected to any form of energy storage or generation available on the market.
At this moment battery containers and solutions are the go-to solution to store energy and optimize existing powerplants. An increasing number of dredging and offshore operators have started to explore opportunities provided with supercaps and LNG generators. Once new power storage technologies such as hydrogen have been developed, they can be integrated to the ESS in a ‘plug & play’ way.
Sustainable shore power from wind energy
Another technical solution that can directly contribute to meet the IMO objective is the use of sustainable shore-side electricity from wind energy on land or sea. By connecting to shore power, the vessels can turn off their diesel generators, significantly reducing noise and the emission of CO2, nitrogen and sulfur dioxide.
The complexity of the shore power connection depends on the status of the electrical installation of a vessel. Bakker Sliedrecht recently converted the electrical infrastructure of the crane vessels Sleipnir and Thialf of Heerema in the Calandcanal in Rotterdam. By switching off the diesel generators of these vessels, total emissions will be reduced by the equivalent of the annual emissions of approximately 5,000 diesel cars.
Increased safety and cost savings in DP mode
As well as reducing ship emissions, safety is also of enormous importance at sea. Offshore vessels often use a DP 2 or 3 system for their maritime operations. These DP 2 3 vessels must remain in position at all times, even in the event of malfunctions, faults in the fuel system or the generators’ voltage regulators. In order to avoid the consequences of faults, the power plant of a DP 2/3 vessel is usually divided into several operating islands. Due to the spread, all diesel generators run inefficiently, which is undesirable from a cost and environmental point of view. The Common Diesel Protection system of Bakker Sliedrecht protects vessels against blackouts while being allowed to operate with a closed bus. With this protection, vessels are able and allowed to safely operate with less running generators. This reduces fuel consumption, maintenance and emissions.
Together towards a sustainable maritime future
Offshore and dredging is a critical but complex industry. Maritime operators face enormous logistical challenges, complex regulations and capitalintensive assets. Together, we have the knowledge, resources and ambition to remain at the forefront of innovation. By continuously pushing our boundaries, we can make your operations more efficient, reliable and sustainable. Together, we push the competitive horizon one step further. With the right technologies, designs, regulations and partnerships we create a playing field in which our advanced assets will remain leaders for decades to come.
Shoreconnection Bakker Sliedrecht.
Ampelmann provides access to energy transition in USA
Electric A-type.
For nearly 15 years, Ampelmann has been building and designing gangway systems towards a more sustainable future. With over 7.6 million workers and 18.6 million kg of cargo transferred to and from offshore structures since its beginnings in 2007, the company has left its mark on the global offshore access world. As one of the pioneers of Walk to Work (W2W), Ampelmann is committed to increasing the safety and efficiency of offshore wind operations by providing energy efficient access solutions.
As offshore wind is fast becoming the backbone of the impending energy transition, innovative solutions are required to facilitate the installation, commissioning, and maintenance of a growing number of wind turbines and substations. By compensating for all six degrees of freedom in relation to the structure, Ampelmann’s motion compensated systems enable consistent and reliable access to wind farms, whenever required, regardless of weather or seasonal constraints. By increasing year-round workability, these systems are ideally positioned to accelerate and sustain the growth of the global energy infrastructure in as safe a way as possible.
First US contract
The growing interest in offshore wind is especially noticeable in the USA. In the last few years, ambitious pilots have been launched on the eastern American coastline. Ampelmann has recently signed its first contract to supply its services on two commercial scale windfarms. Having already transferred hundreds of thousands of crew members and millions of kilogrammes of cargo for the American O&G sector over the last decade, the company is actively seeking out ways to expand its reach into its emerging wind market.
Proven solutions
As a global company, Ampelmann understands that each case requires specific tailor-made solutions. Throughout its 15-year engagement with the renewable energy sector, it has become adept at assessing and addressing the best ways to improve the efficiency and safety of offshore operations. Proven systems such as the A- and E-type have been modified over the years to meet client needs, and newer systems, such as the Atlas 900 and W-type address specific shortcomings of the renewable offshore access market. The A-type is the original Ampelmann system. Having serviced over 5.2 million people globally, this motion compensated gangway has become a particularly reliable component of offshore operations. Its latest iteration is fully electric and has an even lower carbon footprint than the original. With the addition of the hoist add-on, the system is capable of lifting tools and spare parts. Its bigger sibling, the E-type, is designed to withstand rougher sea conditions, up to 4.5m Hs, and already sees widespread use in Europe and the Americas. These systems have become leading examples of safe and efficient access solutions.
Based on proven E-type technology, the E1000 and the recently commissioned E5000 are similarly larger systems and can turn any platform supply vessel into a W2W vessel. Ideally suited to reach the dizzying heights of modern turbines, their gangways double up as cranes that can transfer one to five tonnes of cargo to and from offshore structures and vessels. As this is well within the range for setting up and replacing generators, these systems are particularly useful for construction- and critical maintenance work.
Designing the future
More recently, Ampelmann has been working on specialised systems that combine the familiar motion compensation technology with novel designs. The Atlas 900 is specifically designed for the emerging American offshore wind sector. Developed jointly with Dutch ship designers C-Job, this conceptual system will be fitted on a feeder vessel that can transport all wind turbine parts, including blades and generators, to an installation vessel at the designated construction site. As it is Jones Act compliant, this system opens up new possibilities for continuous construction work on wind farms in the vessel-stricken US market.
The W-type is the latest addition to Ampelmann’s line of products. This height adjustable electric system is based on a combination of old and new technology and is set to transform the SOV/CSOV market. As wind turbines come in different sizes and shapes, this system, which can compensate for waves up to 3m Hs, is ideal for servicing multiple turbines during a single run. The gangway is wide enough to enable trolleys, carrying up to 400kg of equipment, to pass through and within seconds can be converted nto a crane with a carrying capacity of 2,000kg. The first model has recently been sold to Olympic Offshore Wind AS and will start its tour of duty in early 2023.
By staying on top of local and international developments, Ampelmann has much to offer to the expanding American wind energy sector. Whether through more familiar designs such as the A- and E-type, or more recent ones, such as the E5000, Atlas 900 or the W-type, the energy transition will certainly benefit from the company’s expertise in all matters relating to offshore access.
Frontrunner in the wind industry
Van Oord is enabling global transition towards renewable energy
Offshore wind has a large growth potential in renewable energy technology. In line with the increasing global demand for energy it will become an important source of electricity and a key contributor to achieving climate change targets.
On a global scale large investments for enabling the roll-out of offshore wind farms are being made. Even though building offshore wind farms is a business that has been around for a few decades, it is not yet a very mature business. The focus is on bringing down the cost price per kilowatt hour. Upscaling plays an important role in this, but also all kinds of new technologies and advanced equipment.
Since its initial involvement in wind farm installation in 2002, Van Oord has become a frontrunner in this industry. In the Netherlands, Van Oord was one of the first offshore companies to invest in Offshore Wind. As a result, Van Oord makes a significant contribution to the transition to sustainable energy in Europe. Van Oord also operates outside Europe and is focussing on offshore wind developments in emerging markets such as USA and Asia. Van Oord has recently been awarded a turbine transport and installation project for the Aeolus on the East Coast of the United States for execution in 2023 – the first contract for Van Oord in the United States. In Taiwan Van Oord is executing its first offshore wind project and in February 2022 Van Oord, together with Kajima Corporation, has been selected as the preferred Balance of Plant contractor for three projects in Japan.
New orders
To further strengthen its market position in offshore wind, Van Oord has ordered a new offshore installation vessel. The new 175-metre jack-up vessel, the largest of its kind, will be purpose-built for the transport and installation of foundations and up to 20 megawatt turbines at sea. With a top-class crane, the vessel can lift more than 3,000 tonnes. The vessel has an advanced jacking system, with four giant legs, each measuring 126 metres. This allows the vessel to be jacked up and work in waters up to 70 metres deep. The jack-up vessel operates on methanol and is expected to enter the market in 2024. In December 2020, Van Oord had already ordered a new green cable-laying vessel at VARD in Norway. This vessel is capable of laying two cables at once.
Both investments are part of a EUR 1 billion fleet investment programme and in line with Van Oord’s commitment to reduce CO2 emissions and to become carbon-neutral by 2050.
Deep-sea mining equipment
On behalf of its client Allseas, subsea technology company Seatools recently completed the engineering, manufacturing and qualification of the electronics, instrumentation, and hydraulics for Allseas’ pilot polymetallic nodule collection vehicle.
The vehicle will be part of a pilot nodule collection test conducted by Allseas, which is scheduled to take place in 2022 in the Pacific Ocean.
Allseas developed and manufactured the core nodule collection technology and surrounding mechanical assembly for the 70+ tons tracked subsea vehicle in-house. Seatools brought the nodule collector alive by the delivery of the entire hydraulic, electronic, and control system. This included the entire development trajectory including design, building, qualification, and testing. Although Seatools could draw upon its experience and toolbox developed through similar kinds of projects from the past, still a significant part of the project concerned the development and qualification of new technological elements. For instance, in order for Allseas to be able to extensively monitor and control the equipment, process, and environment, Seatools extended its technology base with a new range of sensors. According to Seatools standards, rigorous qualification and factory acceptance testing on both component as well as system level provide a high degree of assurance on the proper functioning of the entire vehicle infrastructure during the upcoming trials.
Rutger Bosland, Project Manager Polymetallic Nodule Collection at Allseas: “Completion of the hydraulic, electronic and control system for our subsea nodule collection vehicle is a major milestone in the preparation of our pilot mineral collection operations. The complexity of the scope and timeline for delivery has challenged Seatools to step up and deliver a high-tech solution capable of excelling at water depths up to 5000 m.”
Jan Frumau, Managing Director at Seatools, said: “It makes us feel honored to play a prominent role in this pioneering project. The rigorous engineering approach has resulted in space technology quality levels and we are of the belief that we have equipped Allseas with state-ofthe-art ROV and subsea technology. Seatools’ contribution underpins the value of our multidisciplinary engineering approach, and confirms our strength in high-end, missioncritical subsea equipment for leading offshore contractors such as Allseas.”
