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ore than 100 turbine and foundation installa- ments in Taiwan, Japan, the U.S. and elsewhere.

tion and maintenance vessels will be required China is a relatively closed and busy offshore wind market for offshore wind projects planned over this with its own demand drivers. Chinese WTIVs are unlikely decade. Almost all of the current feet of in- to operate outside of China. In fact, it is more likely to see

M ternational wind turbine installation vessels smaller installation vessels redeployed to the Chinese market, will be technically redundant as installation vessels by 2025 as a especially as they become less technically suited to interna- consequence of the rapidly growing wind turbine sizes, greater tional demand.

water depths and increase in foundation size. Demand will be These are the fndings in a new report International Wind satisfed by more than 60 newly constructed or upgraded ves- Turbine and Foundation Installation Vessel Market recently sels – presenting a $14B opportunity for engineering frms, completed by World Energy Reports.

shipbuilders and conversion yards, equipment suppliers, service The 70+ page report provides a guide to understanding the providers and those who fnance marine assets. drivers that will shape requirements in this growing, global-

Foundation installation requirements are also rapidly izing and technically evolving industry. The report examines changing. Market requirements are now shifting to purpose- the structure of the installation industry, profles the underly- built wind foundation installation vessels capable of handling ing market drivers, forecasts wind installation activity through the largest monopile foundations. More specialized vessels 2030 and identifes installation vessel technical requirements will be required for this purpose. to meet future demand.

As well as uncertainties posed by the rapidly evolving tech- nological terrain, installation vessel owners are also having to INTRODUCING OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE AND navigate their way through evolving local content require- FOUNDATION INSTALLATION VESSELS

Until now installation requirements have been largely satis- fed by WTIVs and heavy lift vessels designed for the oil &

Summary Forecast for Global Wind Turbine gas and port/salvage market. Market requirements are now

Foundation Installation Vessel Orders shifting to larger capacity WTIVs and purpose-built wind foundation installation vessels capable of handling the largest monopile foundations.

A WTIV is a self-propelled self-elevating jack-up with a crane capacity of 600 tonnes or greater for lifting a WTG set in 5-6 lifts. WTIVs perform a range of functions as part of the

WTIV Activities and Attributes

JULY/AUGUST 2021 OFFSHORE ENGINEER 21