Page 37: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 2023)

Copyright Shimizu Corporation

The Self-Elevating Platform vessel Blue Wind even with obstructions at the quay.

was built by Japan Marine United for Shimizu The ship is equipped to work in varying sea

Corporation, a ship with the size and the lifting conditions, out? tted with 90m legs, able to be capacity to help ensure that Japan meets and ex- modi? ed to 109m legs which allow it to work in ceeds its offshore wind energy aspirations. depths to 65m. Even in signi? cant wave heights

The vessel has a ‘largest in class’ crane with of 2.5 m at 10 second intervals, the ship is de- a lifting capacity of 2,500 tons (1,250 tons with signed to work at 85% ef? ciency.

the boom extended) and a maximum lift of 158m, Another feature of Blue Wind is its self-pro- able to install the foundation and offshore wind pelled navigation, a propulsion system which turbines in the 14-15 MW range. includes six thrusters (three 3,800kW units and

Blue Wind sports a 4,600-sq.-m. deck capable three 3,200kW units) with a maximum naviga- of carrying all parts at once, including the tower, tion speed of 11 knots, or twice as fast as typical nacelle and blades for 7MW turbines or three barge-type SEPs pulled by tugboats. The ship is 12MW turbines, with the capability to – includ- also ? tted with dynamic positioning to help main- ing preparation time – install seven 8MW wind tain its position on site. Construction on Blue turbines in 10 days, and three 12MW units in ? ve Wind began in 2020 at JMU’s Kure shipyard, days, improving transport and construction ef? - with out? tting at JMU’s Ametech’s Aioi plant, ciency up to 50% according to Shimizu Corpora- where it stayed for months of operational train- tion. With the 60m working radius of its crane, ing. The unit was available and ready for work in the ship is capable of ef? cient loading in port March 2023.

BLUE WIND www.marinelink.com 37

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