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Maersk Offshore Wind Forms to Meet Demand

[ July 12, 2024   //   Gary G Burrows ]

Maersk Offshore Wind will provide installation services to the offshore wind market based on a new innovative offshore Wind Installation Vessel, or Maersk WIV.
The design and concept are estimated to substantially reduce the installation time of offshore wind turbines compared to conventional methods, thereby lowering the overall installation cost for the developers, Maersk said.
The Maersk WIV is developed to be permanently stationed at the wind farm to conduct successive installations, while purpose-built tugs and barges shuttle back and forth with the wind turbine components from the load-out port.
The global offshore wind market continues to see substantial growth supported by ambitious targets in the EU and U.S. of at least 90 gigawatts of total installed capacity by 2030, and more than 400 GW by 2050. Offshore wind deployment needs to speed up to meet these demands.
“Maersk Offshore Wind’s concept can reduce the installation time of offshore wind turbines by almost one-third, delivering energy to the grid faster and lowering total installation costs increasing the competitiveness of our customers when they bid for new projects,” said Martin Larsen, CFO of A.P. Moller Holding and chair of Maersk Offshore Wind.
Both the Maersk WIV and the feeder vessels are equipped with new locking and stabilizing technology enabling safe operations in harsh environments, reducing the number of days required to install the wind park. The concept is projected to reduce the number of days required to install an offshore wind park by 30 percent, which will mean faster energy delivery and lower installation costs, leading to better total installation economics.
The first Maersk WIV vessel is under construction at Seatrium in Singapore, with delivery expected in mid-2025 for the installation of Empire Offshore Wind, owned by Equinor.
Maersk Offshore Wind, part of the A.P. Moller Group and headquartered in Denmark, is a spin off from Maersk Supply Service, which designed and developed the Maersk WIV and have marketed the concept since 2018.
Maersk said July 2 that DOF Group will acquire all shares of Maersk Supply Service for about US$1.11 billion, which will become a subsidiary DOF Offshore Holding Denmark ApS. MSS owns 22 high-quality subsea and AHTS vessels.
The combined company, operating under the DOF Group name and brand, will provide offshore services with comprehensive scale, as well as a range of services across all continents in the offshore energy industries.
“We are establishing Maersk Offshore Wind as an independent entity to leverage our decades of offshore expertise and accelerate the development of the offshore wind industry,” Larsen said.
Michael Reimer Mortensen has been appointed CEO of Maersk Offshore Wind. Michael previously served as chief commercial officer at Maersk Supply Service and brings more than 20 years of experience in managing complex maritime operations and customer requirements in the energy sector.
Michael Reimer Mortensen: “With our highly skilled and experienced team leveraging decades of expertise in operating large assets and executing complex offshore projects, Maersk Offshore Wind will focus on providing offshore wind installation services worldwide to improve both the installation process and address critical port infrastructure needs.”

Tags: Maersk Offshore Wind