Why offshore wind needs installation vessels | Hanwha
What is a wind turbine installation vessel?
A wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) is a specialized ship designed to transport turbine components out to sea and facilitate their assembly directly at the installation site. This includes the tower, blades, and nacelle, which is the housing atop the tower that contains the generator. Additionally, WTIVs are responsible for installing the foundational structures that secure the turbines to the seabed.
The task of accurately positioning these heavy components can be quite challenging. Conventional ships are subject to movement from ocean swells, which makes the task of lowering a massive component—often weighing hundreds of tons—onto a tower exceeding 100 meters in height nearly impossible from a deck that is not stable.
WTIVs mitigate this issue by lifting themselves above the water. Upon reaching the site, these vessels lower their legs to the seabed, effectively raising their hulls above the waves—a process known as jacking up. By doing so, the vessel transforms into a fixed platform, allowing its cranes to precisely lift components into position from a stable surface.
This capability distinctly differentiates WTIVs from standard heavy-lift ships. In addition to assembling the turbines, these vessels are equipped to set the foundational structures that anchor them securely and can subsequently return for maintenance tasks throughout the operational lifespan of a wind farm, even in challenging sea conditions that would hinder a conventional vessel’s operations.
