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Inside Out June 2023
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A storytelling platform about our offshore challenges InSide is a digital platform where you can find our stories about pioneering ideas and technological innovations, about people and markets. All stories around the theme of working safely and efficiently at sea. Offshore challenges that will continue to keep us busy for a long time to come.
Integrated Design Process | April 2022 There is a constant demand to stretch the boundaries in the offshore wind-turbine market. Bigger, heavier and higher wind turbines in ever harsher conditions. Integrated design is our answer..
Building a New US Industry | July 2021 Interview with Karl Humberson: On the development of the first offshore wind farm in U.S. federal waters...
Computational Fluid Dynamics | November 2019 Jack-up vessels have to deal with wind loads, whether it’s the journey or when in operation...
Safely unlock the full potential of your offshore unit | June 2020 The OSS is an application layer built on top of the NOV MAX™ big data and analytics platform. This platform allows...
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Sea Installer and Sea Challenger | January 2021 April 2020, with the vessels Sea Installer and Sea Challenger, GeoSea, part of DEME Offshore, has delivered an impressive performance at Borssele 1 & 2...
Steady Top Feeder Vessel: Fast, Flexible and Safe | May 2019 The Steady Top Feeder Vessel is a state-of-the-art solution for the efficient transportation and feedering of offshore wind turbines components to the Wind Turbine Installation Jack Up in the field...
Reaching for higher goals | November 2019 Just as many other countries, Japan is working on increasing the sustainability of its economy...
Tri-Floater, the Link in CO2 reduction | June 2020 Geir Olav Hovde (APL) and Maël Gormand (GustoMSC) discuss the advantages and challenges of floating wind energy...
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Facing the future of energy | June 2020 René Peters a member of the Oil and Gas Reinvented Community, brings people together to develop...
Affordable, Reliable Sustainable and Modern Energy for all | March 2021 As pioneering engineers, GustoMSC contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals and intends to increase its positive impact...
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Net Zero Starts Here
A Pathway to Reduction of Operational Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Mobile Offshore Units
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Articles March 2024
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Apollo Completed Decommissioning Job with Success | May 2019 In January 2019 Apollo successfully completed its third job: decommissioning of the Halfweg Platform in the North Sea. The Halfweg platform is a three-well...
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An Important Milestone for Japanese Renewables Ambitions | May 2019 Wind farm sea projects are slowly materializing in Asia and the first jack-up built in Japan, Penta-Ocean’s CP-8001, is close...
The GustoMSC experience - Backgrounds on the job | June 2023 At the end of January 2023, the Japan Marine United (JMU) shipyard delivered the GustoMSC designed and...
The GustoMSC experience Backgrounds on the job | June 2023 At the end of January 2023, the Japan Marine United (JMU) shipyard delivered the GustoMSC designed and...
From OSV to Cable-Lay Vessel ARIADNE Conversion 2018-2024 | Aug 2019 The demand for renewable energy generated at sea is experiencing rapid growth. This has resulted in a growing demand for cable-lay and repair vessels to connect wind farms to the power grid and keep...
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Operating in its Element
February 2021
Dominion Energy is using the NG-16000X-SJ wind turbine installation jack-up vessel designed by GustoMSC to scale up renewable and reliable energy in the U.S. We discuss this interesting development with Karl Humberson, who is the Director at Dominion responsible for generation projects and generation construction. Offshore wind generation is a vital part of Dominion Energy’s comprehensive clean energy strategy to meet standards set out in the Virginia Clean Economy Act and to achieve the company’s net zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions commitment by 2050. What developments do you foresee for the coming years in this respect? Dominion Energy is committed to achieving the goals laid down in the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) and to remaining a reliable, sustainable energy provider. We expect the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to move forward with providing Notice of Intent (NOI) permits for not only Dominion Energy’s commercial wind project, but many more projects in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. This is an exciting and challenging time in the energy industry. Dominion Energy continues to look at new technologies and projects that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower the carbon footprint created when providing energy to customers. We will continue to invest in solar and wind, but we are also investing in other technologies such as batteries and green hydrogen to ensure that we remain a sustainable, environmentally conscious provider of reliable and affordable electricity.
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The political playing field has changed radically in the past period. In this respect, you could say that we are facing a new era. What will be the most important impact of this change within our sector? We are facing a new era of environmental awareness. The laws and policies issued by the U.S. government will be very important for how quickly the energy sector can advance. Political support for advancements such as offshore wind can have massive benefits in the energy industry as well as in other industries. On a local level, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and the Virginia General Assembly have been vocal advocates for the development of the offshore wind industry. The Virginia Clean Economy Act includes support for up to 5,200 megawatts of offshore wind generation by 2035 with the Dominion Energy Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project providing more than 2,600 megawatts by 2026. The Commonwealth has invested in workforce development opportunities and improvements to the Port of Virginia to make the Hampton Roads region an attractive location for a domestic supply chain hub.
Dominion Energy’s dedication to a clean environment continues to be reflected in renewable energy initiatives such as your Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind pilot project. It is only the second offshore wind project in the U.S. and the first owned by an electric utility company. As a benchmark, Dominion Energy has set itself an ambitious target of installing 5 gigawatts of U.S. offshore wind construction. What can you tell us about Dominion Energy’s ambitions, and what are (and/or were) the major challenges in achieving these goals? Offshore wind is a new industry in the United States. At present, the domestic supply chain for offshore has yet to be developed; the experience, tools, and infrastructure are still largely lacking today. The move to build an offshore wind installation vessel is one step towards creating the infrastructure needed to enable the U.S. to develop offshore wind. Our vessel is not being built for the Dominion Energy commercial project, it is actually being built for the U.S. offshore wind industry. The hope is that a robust supply chain will be created in the United States that can support not only several gigawatts of offshore wind construction, but the potential establishment of foundation and blade manufacturing and staging in the United States. This will create the infrastructure and supply chain to make offshore wind more viable as a U.S. energy source, as well as the opportunity for new jobs where people can innovate in a new industry.
Your company is working together closely with Seajacks, Keppel AmFELS and GustoMSC for the development of the new Dominion jack-up vessel. What insights can you share with us about this cooperation? When Dominion Energy decided to take on the task of building a Jones Act compliant offshore wind turbine installation vessel, we wanted to surround ourselves with industry experts with the experience and knowledge to ensure success. Seajacks is a world leader with respect to owning and operating offshore wind installation vessels, and they have provided a wealth of insight and assistance from the vessel scope, construction oversight, and lessons learned from years of working in the European and Asian markets. GustoMSC is well respected in the offshore industry as a designer and supplier of equipment; their expertise in design is a fundamental building block of the vessel we are building. As the shipyard constructor, Keppel AmFELS in Brownsville Texas has the manpower and know-how to build this vessel as designed with the quality we expect. Keppel AmFELS has a wealth of experience building offshore drilling platforms as well as merchant vessels and their parent company has built offshore wind installation vessels in Singapore; which provides in-house expertise not found in the United States currently.
Generally speaking, the energy transition has hardly started in the U.S. and Asia. Moreover, investments in renewable energy are lagging behind. Where European energy companies invest about 30% of their capital in renewable energy, the figure in the US remains at about 7%. The combination of clear direction for renewable energy by policy makers as well as strong competition in the European energy market forces European energy companies to adapt and innovate. What led to this pioneering work in your company? Dominion Energy is committed to achieving net zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions across the 16 states in which it operates by 2050. We have invested heavily in solar generation and are piloting several battery storage projects, we are reducing our reliance on high carbon burning fuels and opting for cleaner, more efficient power producing technologies. Offshore wind is a natural step forward to remain a leader in sustainable, reliable energy. There has been a shift in the United States related to environmental consciousness. Dominion Energy believes that actions speak louder than words and we are making investments that enable our commitment to net zero emissions to become a reality.
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Kick Start US Offshore Wind
Offshore wind is a natural step forward to remain a leader in sustainable reliable energy.
The Pioneers of Offshore Engineering GustoMSC is recognized for providing advanced design & engineering consultancy for mobile offshore units and reliable equipment supply. We enable and support safe and efficient operations at sea, contributing to a sustainable future. Please subscribe to the newsletter so we can keep you up to date with our latest stories and extra news updates.
Back to Overview
June 2020
While energy markets have their hands full coping with unparalleled demand destruction driven by our society’s response to the COVID-19 virus, Lars Eirik Nicolaisen, Senior Partner & Deputy CEO of Rystad Energy, picks up the thread of a more structural discussion – the energy transition. The oil and gas industry has been through a lot of challenging times; many of these challenges were geopolitically driven like the turbulence in the oil markets during the late 70s and mid-80s. Some of these developments have been macro-related, such as the economic contraction of the early 2000s and the 2008 financial crisis, which also resulted in a temporary setback for the energy industry. An industrially driven trend that has been incredibly impactful is the economic exploitation of shale-resources. Arguably, this may be the most impactful trend witnessed to date and has had particularly dramatic consequences for the offshore industry as a competitor to shale. At the time of writing, we are also in a very challenging supply and demand imbalance driven by the COVID-19 virus and a market share war unfolding at the same time.
The structural challenge we are facing today Traditionally, Europe has been the leader in embracing the energy transition challenge, whereas the US has been much more reluctant. Lots of communication by European oil companies have been regarded as ‘green rhetoric’ rather than an actionable strategy. However, the challenges of climate change have now elevated from the communications department to the executive board levels at all major oil producers. One key reason for this is that Wall Street has started to focus on the concept of climate risk and is challenging corporates on their strategy to address this. At the same time, in the East, China seems very committed to drive scale into the electrification agenda, partly due to the challenges that they are facing heavy pollution in urban areas. Offshore regions differ The offshore industry will have a challenge in maintaining its license to operate within society. In light of the emerging consciousness of climate change, societal and political pressure will be on, and the industry has to demonstrate that it takes this seriously. This includes challenges such as access to talent and access to capital. There is also a rather substantial difference between the footprints of various offshore regions. The main differentiator is the practice of (gas) flaring. In certain regions, such practices are practically non-existent, such as in parts of the North Sea. In contrast to other regions, it is still common to flare gas that you cannot exploit given existing infrastructure.
Offshore energy still relevant in 30 years Oil is very much about transportation; more than 60% of the current demand for oil is for the transportation of people and goods by road, sea and air. This is also one of the key sectors that is seeing competing substitutes winning their way into increased market share; electric vehicles (EVs) are penetrating the Light Duty Vehicle segment, currently accounting for 30% of oil demand. While the EV technology is also applicable to larger-scale road freight further down the road, other alternatives – like hydrogen – are potentially even more likely to win that race in the medium term. This trend is probably the most important dynamic, which is negatively impacting oil demand. Also, efficiencies of the traditional combustion engine are increasing by some 2% per year. This is where the most dynamic developments will take place in the next 30 years. That said, what still holds true is that population growth and increasing wealth are positive underlying drivers for oil demand, so these forces are working against each other.
However, society will be calling for more sustainable operations. The entire supply chain – including a design/engineering company like GustoMSC – will have to play a key part in making this happen. The question is: how can the carbon footprint of current drilling operations be minimized? There is also an opportunity for GustoMSC to take part in increasing the competitiveness of offshore wind energy as a renewable power source. This industry has gained much momentum but can only benefit from even more cost reductions. Such cost reductions have so far come with the increased scale of the turbines, which again calls for innovation of the equipment needed to handle such systems. CO2 emissions as a key purchasing criterion It has become widely accepted that CO2 emissions are a key driver for climate change, and therefore, an immense focus to reduce such emissions has emerged. While opponents will always argue that this will come at the expense of economic growth, we believe that the next 30 years will see a further heightening of this focus. CO2 emissions throughout the supply chain of the energy industry will likely turn into a key purchasing criterion for decision-makers in the procurement of goods and services. We see this already in certain sectors, such as with Platform Supply Vessels in Norway. A carbon-neutral energy system IIt is technically possible: we have the solutions available to provide carbon-free energy systems. The challenge is to mobilize policies, capital, and industry on a sufficient scale and speed to realize it – especially when the cost and benefits of reaching a carbon-free energy system are so unevenly distributed between economies.
Facing the future of energy
A storytelling platform about our offshore challenges everyone InSide is a digital platform where you can find our stories about pioneering ideas and technological innovations, about people and markets. All stories around the theme of working safely and efficiently at sea. Offshore challenges that will continue to keep us busy for a long time to come. Please subscribe to the newsletter so we can keep you up to date with our latest stories and extra news updates.
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There is also an opportunity for GustoMSC to take part in increasing the competitiveness of offshore wind energy as a renewable power source
Well-established research companies tell us we will be relying on oil and gas for 85% of our energy requirement in 2040. At GustoMSC, we believe we contribute to a sustainable future by conducting our operations in a safe and responsible manner. For example, by designing floating offshore wind turbines. In this article, Geir Olav Hovde (APL) and Maёl Gormand (GustoMSC) shed light on the pros and cons and the future of floating wind energy. How do you see the future of floating wind concerning reducing CO2 emissions? Geir Olav Hovde: Floating wind is one piece of the big puzzle of reducing CO2 emissions around the world. Offshore wind does not occupy important land areas for other uses and will also be out-of-sight and out-of-noise for people, and out-of-harm for birds. However, there are potential conflicts with aquaculture, military operations, and the fishing industry, but the further offshore and the deeper the water, the easier it will be to find compromises with other interests. In addition, many coastal areas do not have shallow water where fixed offshore wind is possible. In that case, floating wind turbines like the Tri-Floater offer an attractive alternative. Maёl Gormand: Today, offshore wind offers the high capacity factors necessary to produce large amounts of renewable base power at a competitive price. But with bottom fixed wind turbines, this is only possible in Europe and a few other places. Floating wind is expected to remain more expensive than bottom fixed wind turbines. But it’s our ability to provide competitive renewable electricity prices to the areas that would otherwise not have access to this that matters. And the high potential for industrialization of floating wind makes it a perfect contender.
How important is synergy between APL, GustoMSC, and other NOV subsidiaries in ensuring that the Tri-Floater is a success? Maёl Gormand: Synergy is essential. What we have noticed during our many years of development is that floating wind is a highly integrated market. All systems need to be integrated into the engineering analysis because they all influence each other. That’s why our integration into NOV and its family of companies is so important. Together with APL, GustoMSC, and other NOV companies, we will ensure that the designs of the mooring system, the mooring connector, and the Tri-Floater are fully integrated for the best performance, and we will simplify the hook-up to the maximum. Geir Olav Hovde: GustoMSC, APL, and other NOV subsidiaries have years of experience. We are very complementary in what we do and deliver, which means that NOV can fulfill most of the client’s wishes when it comes to the scope of supply and services. Within the NOV family, we know each other well and co-operate efficiently.
I am positioned in the Technology department of APL, where I work on R&D and new concepts. My background and main field of experience since I joined APL 25 years ago is related to mooring and riser systems, everything from supporting the sales department, conceptual design, FEED studies, detail engineering as well as managing procurement and manufacturing follow-up of mooring components.
APL, founded in 1993, is one of the world’s leading providers of innovative technologies for offshore oil and gas production and transfer. Its foundation was based on the need for a reliable mooring and fluid transfer system in harsh environments offshore Norway and the UK. APL designs and manufactures cost-efficient and innovative technology with a focus on products in the interface between the seabed and the floating units.
I have been working for GustoMSC for 12 years. I started as a structural engineer. I have been working almost exclusively on floating wind since 2015. I support the commercial and project managers from the technical side and also handle industrialization and supply chain questions. In connection with the latter, I advise shipyards on how to fabricate, assemble, and launch the Tri-Floater to optimize production as much as possible.
Tri-Floater, the Link in CO2
Will floating wind as a new market play a role in reaching a tipping point concerning the CO2 footprint? Maёl Gormand: Floating wind is essential for reaching the tipping point. It can bring large scale renewable electricity production to the 50% of the world population who have no other choice. If, as an industry, we succeed in lowering our costs and increasing our throughput massively, then we will bring the economic renewable energy surge that the world needs to switch to wide-spread electrification. Geir Olav Hovde: Floating wind, and then hopefully the Tri-Floater, will play an important role in this aspect. Fixed offshore wind will still be a large market, but many countries do not have access to shallow water suitable for fixed offshore wind, and other countries are already filling up their available shallow water sites. We believe floating wind will be the next big development in the wind industry
Geir Olav Hovde
APL, focus on mooring
Maёl Gormand
Floating wind can bring large scale renewable electricity production to 50% of humanity that has no other choice. Maёl Gormand
November 2019
Just as many other countries, Japan is working on increasing the sustainability of its economy. Last December, the Japanese congress passed a new law allowing construction of offshore wind farms beyond port-related areas. As a result, Japan’s development of offshore wind farms is accelerating. According to research carried out by Wood Mackenzie, Japan is expected to reach 4 GW offshore wind capacity by 2028, enough for more than 3 million households. On 2 August 2019, GustoMSC welcomed its client Shimizu Corporation and Fukada Salvage & Marine Works from Japan for a demonstration of the working scale model of the Telescopic Leg Crane at the Hersbach test location in Schiedam.
What is the most important innovative driver of the Japanese offshore wind energy industry? Mr. Sekiguchi: “The Japanese government decided that electricity from renewable energy sources shall compose 22 to 24% of the total electricity supply in 2030 in accordance with Japan’s basic energy program. This means that our renewable energy supply must be increased significantly. Last December, our congress enacted a new law which accelerates offshore wind farm development. But unlike the EU, we will start with big wind turbines with an individual capacity of 8 MW. And we plan to install even larger turbines in the near future. We must be ready for future turbine capability expansion. Therefore, Shimizu decided to build the SC-14000XL.” In the light of offshore wind turbines what geographical challenges, such as the seabed, earthquakes and deep sea have to be overcome? “Japan’s seabed is generally steep which is different from the North Sea. Good locations for offshore windmills are limited in Japan. We have typhoons from summer to autumn, every year. We also have to deal with earthquakes and tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean. Our SEP (Self-Elevating Platform) must operate under these circumstances with high availability. The SC-14000XL is the ideal model to operate in such difficult conditions.” According to Mr. Sakamoto, the SC-14000XL with Telescopic Crane makes a huge contribution to the efficiency in installation work: “At this moment, in Japan, we only use small jack-up vessels. With the SC-14000XL, we can operate on the Pacific Ocean side with these year-round rough conditions.”
The Telescopic Leg Crane was developed by GustoMSC to provide a solution for the demand for increased lift height and weight, associated with the developing wind-turbine market. Placed on GustoMSC’s self-elevating wind-turbine installation jack-up SC-14000XL the Telescopic Crane will provide a range of advantages over a conventional crane. Shimizu Corporation expressed their interest in the Telescopic Leg Crane and requested GustoMSC to build a scale model (1:20) and perform tests to demonstrate the correct functionality of the telescopic boom principle. During the test program, the operating cycles were run through several times in order to be able to observe all details, such as the guiding system and the locking pins. The basic controls, control sequence and sensors were demonstrated. The unlocking, telescoping and locking actions were performed fully automatic by means of a single joystick movement controlled by the operator. The successful test was followed by an interview with the Japanese delegation: Mr. Takeshi Sekiguchi, Executive Officer at Shimizu and owner of the SC-14000XL jack-up design. And Mr. Takashi Sakamoto, Group Manager Offshore Wind Group at Fukada and future operator of the SC-14000XL with Telescopic Leg Crane.
What was the overriding reason for Shimizu to opt for the SC-14000XL design? “We think the SC-14000XL will offer Shimizu a strong competitive edge in the upcoming wind farm construction market in Japan and Asia. Specifically, because we need to install 8 MW wind turbines and monopile foundations effectively and install 12 MW wind turbines adequately. That requires a large SEP which offers sufficient capability to operate with high availability. Also, having to use a large crane in combination with our SEP, you need to be integrated in both design and operation. The SC-14000XL with Telescopic Crane is the answer to this. The Telescopic Crane and SEP have the required installation ability for the future of the offshore wind energy industry in Japan and Asia. I think further acceptance in the industry will grow as we proceed.” Mr. Sakamoto added to this: “Furthermore, during the transportation stage from the port to the installation site, the crane boom should be shortened, otherwise there is a risk of serious damage. However, we need a very long crane boom to install these very high offshore turbines. Here, I believe the telescopic feature of the crane is quite important to us. In Japan, we have many types of telescopic cranes. Although, for use on the ocean, I have never seen such a big telescopic crane. Actually, Fukada has operated with many different type of cranes having a maximum capacity of more than 3,000 tons. However, these are fixed crane types, so this telescopic concept is completely unique.” Fukada is the first to work with the Telescopic Crane, do you expect that more installation jack-ups will be equipped with the Telescopic Crane? Mr. Sakamoto: “We hope more installation jack-ups will be equipped with the Telescopic Crane. However, it is not going to be easy for other contractors to have such a special crane since Shimizu was interested in this jack-up and crane way in advance. It requires a lot of preparation and development time.”
How did the collaboration with GustoMSC proceed, why did you choose this design? “Mr. Sekiguchi: “This is the first time we are building a SEP. Therefore, we preferred to work with GustoMSC, a company that has a good track record. GustoMSC answered many questions sincerely and met all our demands. As a result, we succeeded in having a basic design and a shipbuilding contract within our time schedule.” Mr. Sakamoto: “In Japan we have several shipbuilders, however they have no experience in special purpose vessels including a jack-up vessel for building offshore wind turbines. We only spent one year to prepare the shipbuilding contract in order to start. So in this case, without a specialized partner like GustoMSC, it would be impossible to start in such a short time.”
Reaching for higher goals
Without a specialized partner like GustoMSC, it would have been impossible to start within a year. Takashi Sakamoto
We must be ready for future turbine capability expansion. Therefore, Shimizu decided to build the SC-14000XL. Takeshi Sekiguchi
The biggest improvement the Telescopic Crane offers is that it limits damage risks during transportation stages. Takashi Sakamoto
Foundation installation in offshore wind farms With the increasing size of offshore wind turbines and the expanding range of locations for offshore windfarms, the foundation weight and size also keeps increasing. With monopiles of 3,000t and possibly more, and jackets becoming increasingly tall, the challenge is on. To address this challenge, GustoMSC is developing a range of Foundation Installation Vessels in addition to its well-known range of NG-type wind-turbine installation jack-ups. Building on the Ensis design introduced in 2016 for optimized monopile installation, new and highly effective solutions are under continuous development at GustoMSC and its partners in NOV Marine & Construction. Insight into the installation processes, integration of disciplines Applying this philosophy to the development of a new generation of foundation installation vessels, GustoMSC has embarked on the development of ship and equipment design based on an extensive program to fully analyze the installation processes. These processes interact and influence each other, and benefit from a constant flow of information exchange that emerges from these processes. Our implementation of this iterative process stands out in the integration of all disciplines and, in particular, in the understanding of the installation steps and their challenges and limitations. This is further supported by the in-depth expertise of the individual teams on their specific products, which allows them to further optimize the individual components such as the heavy-lift crane and monopile handling equipment within the overall context. Combining our understanding of the installation process and our methodical approach to the integrated design process with our ability to make these integrated trade-offs and decisions on the design of the ship and its mission equipment results in this holistic approach that enables us to provide a truly optimized solution.
Working together, close interaction This integrated development of the design and the equipment requires close interaction and collaboration between our teams from different disciplines. The vessel design team, the analysis team and the equipment teams are all involved in this process. For the Ensis development, the teams involved come from various disciplines throughout the NOV Marine & Construction group. The crane design team responsible for NOV Heavy-Lift Cranes is part of the GustoMSC organization, supported by specific expertise from Lifting & Handling in Norway. The team for the deck equipment comes from NOV Remacut in Italy, which specializes in large-scale handling equipment. They are designing the monopile handling, upending and motion compensated gripper that are needed to make the vessel an effective tool. We even take the interaction a step further by working together with our customers and suppliers. This not only offers opportunities in the technical field, but also makes it possible to jointly support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) across the world and accelerate sustainable changes.
More efficiency on the job The demand for more efficiency goes beyond weight and size, it also applies to the way of working, including working under more difficult conditions. We aim to increase the workability of a crane vessel beyond what is common practice today. To achieve high workability, we analyzed the interaction between the vessel, the equipment and its operations. For example, for monopile installation, the teams didn’t stop at what the gripper’s design should be. They investigate the whole process. What does it take to install a monopile with a crane vessel and what work processes are involved? One of the outcomes that emerged after analyzing all the data was to optimize the location of the upend hinge and gripper. These optimizations aim to reduce or eliminate the movements needed in the installation process, an important step forward that directly influences the development of the new Ensis designs and corresponding equipment specifications.
Integrated design is our answer GustoMSC believes that integrated design of the unit and its mission equipment provides that holistic approach. Developing Mobile Offshore Units and equipment suitable for these tasks requires a design process in which engineers look beyond the boundaries of their own discipline and develop integrated solutions together. This can only be accomplished when you understand the whole process and its dynamics, as only then can you solve the bottlenecks and limitations in the existing processes.
There is a constant demand to stretch the boundaries in the offshore wind-turbine installation market. Turbines and their foundations are becoming bigger, heavier and higher and are being installed in more challenging environments and under harsher conditions. In combination with the need to make the installation process more efficient, GustoMSC is convinced that its holistic approach to the design process is needed to be able to offer the solutions the market is looking for.
In-depth understanding the many aspects of the monopile installation is key to a successful design. Pioneering for mutual success Before we could increase the efficiency, we had to dig deeper than is common in crane-vessel design. At GustoMSC, we are good at solving complex problems, utilizing our expertise to make a real difference is what motivates us as offshore pioneers. Real pioneering in offshore engineering work at the intersection of advanced technological expertise and awareness of the complexity of offshore operations. We look at the design and equipment in such a way that the whole operation becomes more efficient. This is a different way of looking at the development of new vessels and innovative equipment. In this process of developing new solutions, it is very important to sit down with our customers and discover where the bottlenecks are, analyze them and then improve the design and equipment. Receiving feedback on the whole concept and thus increasing our knowledge and understanding to improve our solutions are key to mutual success. With 150 years of experience in the offshore industry, and thanks to our integrated design approach and the GustoMSC DNA, we have grown into a leading partner. By supporting sustainable developments around the world, we help our customers with future challenges and share new opportunities.
April 2022
Inside Out
Integrated Design Proces
Fulfilling the industry’s ambitions together
Engineers are going off the beaten track and developing integrated solutions together.
The demand for more efficiency goes beyond technology, efficiency needs to be integrated in the combination of technology and operations.
July 2021
Will the characteristics of the US compared to Europe lead to differences in the development of the offshore wind industry? Two key differences between Europe and the US are the Jones Act and the port infrastructure. In Europe, the North Sea offshore Oil & Gas industry existed prior to the offshore wind industry and therefore infrastructure, assets and experience were already largely available. In Europe, the growth of the offshore wind industry was in line with the experience that was being built up. This port infrastructure is missing on the Northeast Coast and, contrary to Europe, the US is starting the roll-out of offshore wind energy with massive 12+ MW turbines as opposed to the 2 to 3 MW turbines initially being installed in Europe. The combination of these factors presents a huge challenge and the industry has been trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together over the past years and to come up with viable solutions for the transport and installation of the first US offshore wind farms. GustoMSC has been very active over the years in supporting the market with concepts and solutions. Examples are, of course, the designs for large Jones Act compliant installation jack-ups such as the NG-8000X, NG-14000X and NG-16000X but also alternatives such as Feeder and Maintenance jack-ups. In addition, we have explored floating feeder alternatives such as the Steady Top Feeder Barge concept which we have evolved into a dedicated Steady Top Feeder Vessel (STFV) over the past year. The vessel is an integrated design comprising a proven skidding and proven 3D motion compensation platform on a DP2 vessel supporting the safe lift-off of wind turbine components from a floating feeder vessel to an in-field installation jack-up. By using motion compensated floating feeder vessels more ports on the East Coast can be used that are not accessible by large jack-ups. The development and construction of these vessels has the potential of transforming the US offshore wind industry to adapt logistical solutions and associated assets to best suit the local requirements. Can we foresee a development – as we have in Northwest Europe – where the cost per MW of offshore wind energy can compete with more traditional sources? At GustoMSC, we look closely at our portion of the LCoE that we can influence. We also look beyond our expertise, as an integrated jack-up vessel designer and equipment supplier. In Europe, we started to design the first dedicated WTI-JUVs in 2008, achieving that one jack-up vessel is able to install one turbine set in one day. This was a game changer by installing at a faster pace, reducing the installation costs and significantly lowering our portion of the LCoE. Dominion Energy will be benefitting from this expertise and by doing so they have tackled one of the major risks. The concessions of 9,000 MW / approx. 700 wind turbines which have currently been granted and of which Dominion has obtained several are a good start. However, offshore wind energy is still in the pioneering phase in the USA. Collaboration with experienced partners in these projects appears necessary to learn and catch up.
What environmental (seabed, water depth, currents, wind loads) challenges have to be addressed? Environmental conditions in the Northeast of the US are challenging and harsh with relatively deep water depth but GustoMSC does not envisage any unsolvable issues as we are used to operating worldwide and have vast experience in this offshore wind industry since 2002. We have been involved in US projects, like Cape Wind since 2008. Over time, we have come to understand the local specifics and to know what is required. Apart from operating in the offshore environment, the development of offshore wind energy is a logistic challenge. In Europe, we made many mistakes when trying different approaches to the development of offshore wind energy. We have learned from these mistakes and we have evolved into a mature and efficient industry. What other challenges (legislation, investment, technical capabilities) have to be overcome to scale up the operation nationwide? The limited shipyard capacity capable of building these large self-propelled DP2 jack-up crane vessels is a major challenge. If you want a Jones Act compliant WTIV jack-up in 2025, you will need to have a shipbuilding contract in place soon. These are high Capex, complex and technically challenging vessels to build, and they require shipyards capable of handling these dimensions. Also, they must have the necessary skills, capacity, and experience. Keppel AmFels in Brownsville is one of the few yards that has the skill sets required to build jack-up rigs and DP-2 vessels under one roof. In addition to the Jones Act, the US Coastguard has regulations and it is important to take these into account right at the beginning of the design process and jacking system engineering. Educating and training personnel is very important! We are talking about new jobs with new tasks and responsibilities. The installation works are of a repetitive nature, these are delicate heavy components, at very high heights and in an offshore environment. There is no industry, onshore or offshore, lifting components of over 1,000 metric tons (1,100st) at such high heights of over 150 meters (>490ft) and in a repetitive way. Skyscrapers are built piece by piece. The new crews need to learn the new standards, work safely and operate from a safe, stable and solid GustoMSC designed platform.
Following the interview with Karl Humberson, Director Generation Construction at Dominion Energy, Commercial Director Jan-Mark Meeuwisse and Sales Manager Karel Wagner of GustoMSC explain how the US can scale up more rapidly by making use of European knowledge and experience.
The new US administration has set an ambitious target for the expansion of offshore wind energy. It aims to expand offshore wind energy to 30GW by 2030 and to have 110GW in place by 2050. What will this mean for the existing ports, production facilities, installation and maintenance infrastructure in the supply chain? The US offshore wind energy supply chain will have to expand quickly and, to start off, it will have to team up with European players to kick-start the process and meet the required timeline. For the first projects, the US already relies on the EU supply chain to install foundations and turbines. It will take time to build up a new industry and supply chain best suited to the local conditions in the US. Over the past years, we have seen that investments are starting to be made in the infrastructure, supply chain and assets required for the long-term development of US offshore wind energy. Examples are: the development of EEW’s foundation manufacturing facility in Paulsboro, NJ; the development of the staging port at New London, CT, and the construction of Dominion Energy’s installation jack-up vessel “Charybdis”. Many of these developments and investments rely strongly on US – EU partnerships building on European offshore wind expertise and local US content. What role does the Jones Act play in the development of a robust supply chain? The Jones Act requires vessels that transport merchandise, including offshore wind turbine components between US ports to be US built, flagged, crewed and owned. The specialized vessels required to develop offshore wind energy along the US East Coast currently don’t exist in the US. The ability to use vessels currently being used in the Gulf of Mexico offshore Oil & Gas industry is very limited. The required vessels include the full range from the smaller Crew Transport Vessels (CTVs), SOVs (Service Operating Vessels), Cable laying vessels, Scour protection vessels, to the high Capex Installation vessels and jack-ups. In the short term, foreign vessels will be required to be used within the restrictions of the Jones Act, but long-term dedicated fit-for-purpose US built and Jones Act compliant vessels will be required to efficiently develop the US offshore wind industry. This puts a strong demand on the US shipbuilding and operating industry in order to build and operate these vessels. In comparison to Europe with 41,000 miles of coastline, the US coastline with a total length of 95,500 miles has an immense potential for the offshore wind industry. How likely is it that the US offshore wind industry will take off across the entire US coastline? The current focus in the US is on the development of bottom fixed wind energy along the US East Coast. The Northeast has a very good wind resource in relatively shallow water conditions and is located close to population centers in need of renewable energy. In addition, states in the Northeast see offshore wind energy as a promising new industry from which they wish to reap the economic benefits. This is an ideal combination which is currently fueling the development of the US offshore wind industry. At the same time, the individual states along the East Coast are competing with each other to attract the desired portions of the supply chain and associated economic activity to their own state. Compromises between states will be required to develop an efficient infrastructure and supply chain for the long term. Dynamics on the US South (Gulf of Mexico) and West Coasts are different and will therefore follow different trajectories. Developments on the US West Coast are promising, but focused on floating wind technology due to higher water depths and are currently still somewhat behind in relation to developments along the East Coast.
Kick Starting US Offshore Wind
Karel Wagner Sales Manager GustoMSC
Jan-Mark Meeuwisse Commercial Director at GustoMSC
Building a New US Industry
The Northeast has a very good wind resource in relatively shallow water conditions and is located close to population centers in need of renewable energy. Karel Wagner
Educating and training personnel is very important! We are talking about new jobs with new tasks and responsibilities. Jan-Mark Meeuwisse
March 2021
Current trends and developments in the offshore wind industry are shaping the installation fleet of the future. Ever larger offshore wind turbines as well as the expansion to new areas such as Japan, Taiwan, and the USA are challenging the current installation concepts. GustoMSC is widely involved in these developments through the design of ever-increasing Wind Turbine Installation Vessel designs, larger jacking systems and cranes. In parallel, GustoMSC has been developing solutions for feeder options including the latest development of the Steady Top Feeder Vessel.
This specially designed transport vessel will be able to load WTG components in port and transport them directly to the field. At the site, in dynamic positioning mode, a dedicated WTI Jack-up will be able to lift-off WTG components safely from a motion compensation platform while maximizing workability in the offshore environment. The motion-compensation system is an optimized and integrated solution based on the existing and proven BM-T700 platform by BargeMaster. Via the skidding system, components are transferred from storage position to the motion-compensation platform for lift-off. Optimized main dimensions and hull design offer a high transit speed, improved motion behavior for maximum workability, low air-draft and a small beam for increased port access and a low depth to allow for port loading using multi-wheelers (SPMTs). This fully integrated solution is based completely on proven technology. Particularly in the case of the USA, where the Jones Act requires US flagged vessels to be used for the transportation of wind turbine components and where there are limited ports which can be accessed by large jack-ups, the STFV provides an attractive alternative or complement to the traditional self-transiting installation jack-up concept.
With the development of the Steady Top Feeder Vessel design and the associated BM-T1500G motion-compensation platform and skidding system GustoMSC has developed a dedicated feeder concept, which offers the flexibility of a floating vessel feeder solution while maximizing workability and minimizing the risk of operations. The STFV offers an efficient and future proof solution for offshore wind feedering. The solution is an attractive alternative to the self-transiting WTIV particularly when local or project-specific conditions make the use of a self-transiting WTIV less ideal.
The Steady Top Feeder Vessel is a state-of-the-art solution for the transportation and feedering of offshore wind turbines
Steady Top Feeder Vessel: Fast, Flexible and Safe
CFD outcomes verified and validated GustoMSC used the commercial software package from Siemens (i.e., STAR-CCM+) to apply CFD calculations to the topside structures of the jack-ups with and without deck load. The CFD results have been verified and validated by comparison with the Experimental Fluid Dynamics (EFD) results obtained at the German-Dutch Wind Tunnels (DNW) in Marknesse, The Netherlands. An atmospheric boundary layer profile was applied during the wind tunnel tests. The CFD calculated atmospheric boundary layer profiles were also validated and compared with those profiles measured in the wind tunnel.
Existing empirical methods less accurate in predicting loads During the design processes of these jack-ups, wind loads calculations are usually performed using empirical methods from classification societies and standards such as ISO and SNAME and scale models are also tested in wind tunnels. The first is less accurate, the second expensive and time consuming since a physical model must be built for the wind tunnel measurements. Moreover, there is always the question of how close these methods are to reality? A new method to predict wind loads The ability to predict the wind loads using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) at the design stage is of interest. Because in CFD not only the wind loads can be predicted, but also valuable insights can be obtained into the flow behavior through visualization of the flow field which can be used to optimize the topside structures arrangement for minimum wind loads. Therefore, GustoMSC has been working hard on applying CFD method as a new method in the design process to predict the wind loads on self-propelled wind turbine installation jack-ups. The ability to predict wind loads using CFD at the design stage is an important step forward. The CFD method makes the design process more structured, saves costs during the development and construction of the jack-ups and makes the jack-ups more efficient when installing wind turbines.
Every self-propelled wind turbine installation jack-up has to deal with wind loads, whether it’s the journey from port to location or when operating at the offshore location itself. The wind loads acting on the topside structures is one of the critical environmental loads acting on these jack-ups for elevated condition, station keeping and stability purposes. An accurate prediction of the wind loads is therefore eminently important during the design processes of these types of jack-ups.
The wind tunnel model of the jack-up with the deck load
The wind tunnel model without deck load
Wind tunnel data used to validate CFD results When developing the CFD approach, wind loads were calculated that act on the detailed topside structures of a typical GustoMSC designed self-propelled wind turbine installation jack-up. The applied atmospheric boundary layer profiles were maintained throughout the computational domain by applying an iterative method. The CFD results at the different flow angles were compared with and without the deck load present. A comparison was made between the CFD and the experimental results for the longitudinal force, lateral force, heeling moment, pitch moment and yaw moment coefficients. Examples of the wind loads results comparison for the longitudinal forces, lateral forces and heeling moments showed that the wind loads CFD results are in very good agreements with the EFD results.
Comparison between CFD and EFD results for the longitudinal force coefficients.
Comparison between CFD and EFD results for the lateral force coefficients.
Comparison between CFD and EFD results for the heeling moment coefficients.
Optimizing jack-up structure arrangement in design process By applying CFD calculations it is possible to obtain comparable accuracy to wind tunnel model tests. The main advantage of using CFD is that it can provide useful information at the start of the design process, such as velocity quantities and pressure distribution on the surface of the top structures. These quantities can be useful in the design process as input for other design calculations. CFD can also provide physical insight into flow characteristics around the top structures, which can be used to optimize the construction of topside structures to achieve minimum wind loads early in the design process. Which makes it also possible to consult clients for an optimum deck arrangement for minimum wind loads. Examples of the flow field obtained from CFD calculations can be seen below for the topside structures with and without the deck load.
The same cross-sectional view of the velocity magnitudes but now with the deck load
Cross-sectional view of the velocity magnitudes along with the pressure distribution on the jack-up without deck load at a flow angle of 90 degrees
Unlocking the full potential of offshore units There is a tendency to design ever larger jack-ups enabling the installation the ever lager offshore wind turbines. This makes stability and using accurate wind loads prediction even more important. Testing this with a scale model in the early design stage is expensive and time-consuming. Also, separate parts of the jack-up such as the legs, cranes and deck load cannot be accurately tested at model scale because of large scale effects involved. With GustoMSC’s CFD calculation method, it is also possible to calculate the wind loads acting on the components of the jack-up separately for wind loads even at full scale. Less costs and more efficiency with the CFD method By accurately predicting the wind loads on jack-ups and its components with the CFD method, the jack-up can be optimized at the beginning of the design phase. This not only results in significant cost savings, but also increases the efficiency of jack-ups. By using the CFD method in the design phase, more space can be created on the deck of the jack-up, allowing more cargo to be transported. In addition, a lighter jack-up also offers an advantage during transport from port to the offshore work location. A lighter jack up consumes less fuel and that results in a smaller industry footprint.
Watch recordings
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Accurately Predicting Wind Loads on MOU with CFD
By accurately predicting the wind loads on jack-ups and its components with the CFD method, the jack-up can be optimized at the beginning of the design phase. Zana Sulaiman
The main advantage of using CFD is that it can provide useful information at the start of the design process. Zana Sulaiman
January 2021
April 2020, with the vessels Sea Installer and Sea Challenger, GeoSea, part of DEME Offshore, has delivered an impressive performance. The company carried out the transport and installation of 94 foundations and turbines for the offshore wind farm Borssele 1&2. The Danish company Ørsted is the owner of the wind farm. According to Henrik Egholm, EPC director at the company, a milestone has been achieved in various aspects: “The design and construction teams of our contractors have put a lot of energy into the development of Borssele 1&2 over the past years. We can certainly qualify it as very professional that this has been achieved completely safely and, moreover, in accordance with the planning and budget under the Covid-19 circumstances. That we will be delivering an amount of sustainable energy with these wind farms that equals the annual electricity consumption of one million Dutch households makes this particularly special.”
The wind farm covers a surface of 128.3 km2 and is located 23 kilometers off the Dutch coast in the North Sea. The water depths vary from 14 to nearly 40 meters. The park consists of in total 94 Siemens Gamesa 8 MW wind turbines, which represents a capacity of 752 MW. The turbines are 200 meters high and equipped with a new large rotor of no less than 167 meters.
Find more information and video’s on Borssele 1&2
The Sea Installer and Sea Challenger are designs from the NG series of GustoMSC multi-purpose jack-ups. The NG-9000C is the most applied jack-up design within the renewables market.
More on the NG-series
Sea Installer and Sea Challenger Getting the Job Done
The NG-9000C
July 2022
Trilogy GustoMSC and Hydro Motion Team
JULY 2022
Many issues When using hydrogen - the energy source that the Hydro Motion Team has opted for - GustoMSC engineers are still running into many problems. Hofman: ‘Take a simple example: if the tanks are empty, you want to make sure that the island or platform does not tilt. You are also confronted with many rules and regulations regarding safe collision zones. In view of that, you do not want to have a hydrogen tank at the edge of the deck but preferably somewhere in the middle. But lifting a tank to the middle of an offshore unit is also not without risk.” Van den Berg: “Of course, we don't seek to avoid such challenges. That is why GEEQ is so important. Our most important focus at this time is designing solutions for the installation of wind turbines at sea. After all, it is somewhat contradictory that we still use fossil fuels for the installation of wind turbines in order to generate renewable energy.”
Changing demand At GEEQ, it is not only about new energy sources and new forms of generating and storing energy, but also about reducing the CO2 footprint in connection with the construction and installation of offshore installations. Van den Berg: “GEEQ is above all about drawing up new design parameters to optimize the efficient use of fuel and to reduce the CO2 emissions of our designs. It is our responsibility to be a front runner in the maritime sector in this area. This is something that we also have in common with the TU Delft students and their championship. They want to win, and so do we.” With GEEQ, GustoMSC is also responding to changing demands in the market. “The maritime sector is not really a front runner where it concerns applying new technologies and energy sources. Which is understandable as you are talking about investments that have to last for decades”, Van den Berg explains. “However, the operators of offshore wind turbines are an exception”, Hofman adds. “The final commissioning parties want the installation of wind farms to become greener. Installation of a wind turbine farm - transport of components to sea, installation of the foundation, and installing the turbine on the foundation - accounts for a significant part of their CO2 footprint. Consequently, interesting gains can be realized in this area, certainly if this could be CO2 neutral. You need an incentive like this because otherwise the cheapest solution will always be preferred. The end user is ultimately the one who steers the manufacturer. The installation of offshore wind farms and, in particular, the design of the installation equipment, is currently at the heart of the field that we are working in. Therefore, with GEEQ, we are responding to this challenge.
With GEEQ, GustoMSC Remains The Leading Innovator
“We are both searching for solutions. The Hydro Motion Team students are building a hydrogen-powered boat. The energy transition is a challenge for us, and it inspires us to come up with new solutions for our customers.” Erwin van den Berg is an Engineering Consultant at GustoMSC and enjoys the challenge of finding new solutions. He has a lot of respect for the TU Delft students of the Hydro Motion Team that GustoMSC is sponsoring. “They have taken on a double challenge: they are building a hydrogen-powered boat. This is a new source of energy of which the application is still in a pioneering phase. And the second challenge is that they are also building a hydrofoil boat.” In doing so, they must closely examine numerous details. In order to build such a boat, you must perform analyses, make calculation models, and then perform tests and build the boat. “This is similar to what we are doing at GustoMSC. We also enter into technical challenges, look for solutions to problems, and combine all these elements in a total design”, Van den Berg explains.
GEEQ When he joined GustoMSC in 2020, Van den Berg was asked to take the lead in the GEEQ project, the GustoMSC Energy Efficiency Quest. GEEQ is the company’s internal quest for sustainable technologies for energy sources that can become important for its customers. “GustoMSC’s aim is to help its customers in the energy transition to find and make use of the most efficient, sustainable, and safe technologies for the various offshore markets”, Andries Hofman, Product Development Manager, tells us. “In doing this, we look at two aspects. The development of new renewable energy sources is, obviously, very important. On the other hand, we are also looking into how we can reduce the CO2 emissions of our existing systems and installations.”
The 25 members of the new Hydro Motion Team of the TU Delft met for the first time at the beginning of August 2021. On the computer screen that the team members were looking at there was only one line: July 4th - 9th 2022. That was all. The assignment? Monaco Energy Boat Challenge will be held in the first week of July for boats that are powered by emission-free energy. The TU Delft team is aiming for the highest goal: winning the world championship with a seaworthy hydrogen-powered boat in the Open Sea Class. And to push the adrenaline level even higher, the team has entered the championship with a hydrofoil boat.
One academic year There is not much time. The boat has to be conceived, designed, built, tested, and made race-ready in the academic year 2021/2022. The students build forth on a rich tradition of 16 years of innovation. The teams of the previous 15 years perfected the application of solar energy on boats, with as the ultimate high winning the world championship in the Monaco Open Sea Class in 2019. Team 16 that was formed in August 2020 brought this project up to a higher level by entering the competition with the first hydrogen-powered hydrofoil boat. Solar energy was no longer a challenge for them. “Hydrogen offers good opportunities for the maritime sector,” according to Olav van Voorst, chief engineer of the current team. “Hydrogen is not the solution, but it is one of the sustainable solutions for the sector. The efficiency, sustainability and applicability of hydrogen is currently the most optimal for mid-range vessels. Electricity appears to be the most suitable energy source for smaller vessels and ammonia looks very promising for larger vessels such as tankers and airplanes. But for mid-range vessels and vehicles, we believe in hydrogen.”
Completely new design Team 16, that made the switch from solar panels to hydrogen, succeeded in developing the first ‘flying’ hydrogen-powered boat. Unfortunately, it was unable to continue the race due to a technical malfunctioning. Moreover, the boat did not participate in all categories of the race in Monaco. Team 17, which began in August 2021, has set the yardstick even higher. “We are going to participate in the Open Sea Class in which the boat is tested in the categories: maneuverability, speed and endurance. This race is not specifically for hydrogen-powered boats but for the class of vessels with zero CO2 emissions at open sea”, project manager Emile Craye explains. “Therefore, we decided to come up with a whole new design. Last year's team built forth on the legacy of the solar boat team and used the trimaran that was built for that purpose. However, we will not be able to win the race with that design. This boat had a large deck for the solar panels. In view of the race category maneuverability, we considered it a requirement to come up with a whole new design in which the hull was built around the tanks, fuel cell, and engine. In this manner, we could integrate all the systems in the hull.”
Very prestigious THow likely is it that the team will become the new world champion? According to Sophie van ‘t Hoff, team manager, this is difficult to predict. “Last year, all of the teams that participated were commercial teams which the exception of the Hydro Motion Team, which was the only student team. As far as we know, no student teams have entered the championship this year and, therefore, we are competing exclusively with companies that have their own research departments and that have, in some cases, been working on their boat for years and that also have more funds and resources at their disposal. This race is also regarded as a very prestigious race by a company's customers.” "The most important thing for us is to show that hydrogen can be used as an energy source in the maritime sector,” Craye states. “And that you can do this quickly, as we are building the boat from scratch in a period of 12 months.”
Winning The Championship is The Only Thing That Counts
Monday, May 23rd was a special day for the Hydro Motion Team of the TU Delft. The members of the team christened their boat in the presence of family, friends, and sponsors. Some of the partner's logos, including GustoMSC's, were depicted on the boat’s hull. This boat is not just any boat, it is a rather special boat. First, because it is a hydrofoil boat and, secondly, because it is hydrogen powered. The student team is going to take part in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, a competition for zero-emission boats, from July 4th to July 9th. If the team wins the world championship trophy on July 9th, 11 months will have passed since the start of the project. In view of GustoMSC's focus on the development of zero-emission technology, the Hydro Motion Team's choice to use hydrogen as an energy source attracted the attention of Tessa Vleugels, Communications Officer at GustoMSC, and Rutger Baan, Commercial Director of the company. Rutger Baan attended a congress about hydrogen in August 2021, which had been organized by the student team. At the same time, Tessa Vleugels was also in contact with one of the team members. Baan: “For us, the possibility to sponsor the Hydro Motion Team was the right idea at the right time.”
Market developments This has everything to do with the changes that GustoMSC observes in the market. Since 2010, the company has been looking into possibilities, together with customers, to reduce emissions in combination with increasing the efficiency of energy systems. However, it was not until 2020 that market parties started making the first large investments like new installation units. Traditionally, customers were mainly interested in diesel-powered offshore installation designs. In recent years, customers have started demanding designs that are ready for the new types of energy supply such as fuel cells and alternative fuels such as methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen. Baan: “I think this was also due to the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015. The end users of our wind turbine platforms, energy companies such as Vattenfall, needed a few years to implement the climate agreement goals in their investment plans. Developers are starting to push wind turbine builders and their installation contractors more and more in the direction of sustainability.” According to Baan, GustoMSC has been looking into the possibility of non-fossil fuels already for a number of years but there was no demand for this at that time. “We now see that offshore installations are being built in various shipyards that make use of cleaner and more efficient energy sources. We see the trend towards renewable energy, sustainability, and reduction of emissions arising in the offshore wind turbine market as well as in the offshore oil and gas sector”
Three levels of energy savings The commercial director explains that when GustoMSC designs platforms, the energy savings are at three levels. “First, we recover energy, and we are thus able to reduce emissions. Secondly, we add batteries in our designs so that the energy that has been recovered can be used later. As a result, generators can run much more energy efficient. The third level is that we take into account that fuel cells with the right capacity will become available. We see that the development of fuel cells is accelerating. According to Baan, order portfolios are filling up now for the first time with orders for designs with an innovative approach to energy. “We will have to see whether these designs will be preferred above the now cheaper installations that run on fossil fuels and have a more negative impact on the environment.”
Gaining knowledge It is not only the use of hydrogen that is interesting for GustoMSC. Baan: “The talented young students who study at the TU Delft and participate in the Hydro Motion Team are also attracting our attention. There are a number of things that we are very good at. We are market leaders in several technological fields. We aim to be pioneers and help our customers increase the sustainability of their installations and offshore activities. Therefore, we have to continue to innovate and bring knowledge of new energy sources on board. Being in close contact with such an innovative group of students is an excellent opportunity”. Baan: “They have developed standards, made innovations, and held test runs. We are eager to hear about the problems that they encountered. It is fascinating to see how a young team like this is building a boat in such a short period of time. It is really impressive and a source of inspiration for us.”
Demand for personnel GustoMSC is doing very well at present. It is a growing company and can always use new knowledge and fresh ideas. Therefore, we are also interested in recruiting members of the student team. “We are looking closely where new colleagues come from and the TU Delft is an important contact for us. We also want to let people know that we are working on sustainable energy solutions such as hydrogen and, of course, we hope to be able to recruit a number of students who are eager to play a pioneering role in sustainable energy technologies,” according to Baan.
The Right Idea
The Winning Team
Leading Innovator
This year, GustoMSC is one of the sponsors of the Hydro Motion Team of the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). In the first part of a trilogy about this partnership, Rutger Baan, Commercial Director of GustoMSC, explains how the sponsoring came about. In the second part, the Hydro Motion Team talks about the route leading up to the race. In the third part, Erwin van den Berg, Engineering Consultant at GustoMSC, and Andries Hofman, Product Development Manager, share their experiences with GEEQ, a future orientation that GustoMSC is carrying out internally.
"The most important thing for us is to show that hydrogen can be used as an energy source in the maritime sector” Emile Craye, project manager Hydro Motion Team
"What do we have in common with the students? They want to win, and so do we." Erwin van den Berg, Engineering Consultant GustoMSC
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October 2022 Reading time: 5 min
The demand for energy is growing. Whether it concerns renewable or existing sources. To meet current demand, expansion of production facilities and maintenance of existing production platforms remains of great importance. This certainly applies to the Middle East. That is why Arab oil and gas producers are looking at new options and at expanding the operational envelope. The changing demands of the local energy companies, the lessons learned from the activities of the last decades, combined with the need for cost-efficient and more sustainable solutions, led GustoMSC to develop a new generation of its service jack-up designs, specifically tailored for Middle East offshore operations. At home in the Middle East With many years of experience gained in the Middle East and with the local market developments in mind, we went back to the drawing board. We know the offshore landscape in the Gulf region well having designed about 13 of these units operating in the Middle East since the 1980s and providing continuous support to the owners of these units today on a daily basis. This enables us to meet the changing demands of energy companies in the Middle East. Design specifically tailored for cost-efficiency Based on robust properties of the successful GustoMSC NG-2500X service jack-up, we now introduce the Jamal alMaa-series, or the JA-series for short. This new generation of service jack-ups are part of GustoMSC's self-propelled multi-purpose jack-up series. These units are ideal for operations and maintenance operations, hook-up, and construction support, and well services in offshore oil and gas. The design is specifically tailored to cost-effectively meet the specific operational needs in the Middle East.
Inspired by nature and Dutch innovation JA-series, or Jamal alMaa-series, links us to two iconic images; the reliable camel of the Arabian Peninsula and the innovative “ship camels” that the Dutch used to allow their ships to access shallow waters. The reliable and tirelessly working camel, metaphorically described as the ship of the desert, has been a vital element of life in the Arabian Peninsula and was essential to the way of life and transport in the unforgiving terrain. A formidable beast of burden, it inspires the reliability and ruggedness of our design. Adaptation to the specific challenges for the region, key to the camel's success, is reflected in the Jamal alMaa-series. A Dutch 17th-century innovation, the “ship's camel”, allowed ships to enter shallow waters. An early example of Dutch maritime innovation, the principle of reducing draft through buoyancy is also found in Jamal alMaa.
Soil impact and safety Extra attention has been paid to the bearing pressure under the spudcans. The design has a draft of less than 4 m to access shallow fields, combined with reduced spudcan bearing pressure to reduce seafloor indentations. At the same time, it has a water depth capability of 65 m to be able to work in a large area of the Middle East. With a dynamic positioning system that is suitable for the specific environmental conditions in the Middle East. In addition, the JA-series features a new cost-effective version of the proven GustoMSC Variable Speed Driven electrical rack & pinion jacking system. In addition, our JA-series can be equipped with GustoMSC's OSS system to ensure the safety and efficiency of jack-up operation in all circumstances.
JA-series for the Middle East, cost-effective and fit for purpose
Inspired by nature and Dutch innovation JA-series, or Jamal alMaa-series, links us to two iconic images; the reliable camel of the Arabian Peninsula and the innovative “ship camels” that the Dutch used to allow their ships to access shallow waters. The reliable and tirelessly working camel, metaphorically described as the ship of the desert, has been a vital element of life in the Arabian Peninsula and was essential to the way of life and transport in the unforgiving terrain. A formidable beast of burden, it inspires the reliability and ruggedness of our design. Adaptation to the specific challenges for the region, key to the camel's success, is reflected in the Jamal alMaa-series. A Dutch 17th-century innovation, the “ship's camel”, allowed ships to enter shallow waters. An early example of Dutch maritime innovation, the principle of reducing draft through buoyancy is also found in Jamal alMaa. Soil impact and safety Extra attention has been paid to the bearing pressure under the spudcans. The design has a draft of less than 4 m to access shallow fields, combined with reduced spudcan bearing pressure to reduce seafloor indentations. At the same time, it has a water depth capability of 65 m to be able to work in a large area of the Middle East. With a dynamic positioning system that is suitable for the specific environmental conditions in the Middle East. In addition, the JA-series features a new cost-effective version of the proven GustoMSC Variable Speed Driven electrical rack & pinion jacking system. In addition, our JA-series can be equipped with GustoMSC's OSS system to ensure the safety and efficiency of jack-up operation in all circumstances.
The ESG requirements have also been included in the design of the new JA-series. The design benefits from the latest developments in this area and offers opportunities to reduce emissions. Power regeneration and energy storage systems such as batteries can be built in, along with various other sustainable technologies.
Developed to meet emerging ESG requirements
Designed to enable construction in shipyards of choice, combined with GustoMSC's experience working with and supporting shipyards around the world in building these specialized units, it also offers potential to build in the Middle East, creating jobs and adding value being realized in the country.
Together with contractors
The JA-series is specifically tailored to cost-effectively meet the specific operational needs in the Middle East.
Alain Wassink Commercial Director at GustoMSC
Meet us at ADIPEC 2022 Meet the new JA-series at ADIPEC 2022, stand 7250 | hall 6. Make an appointment with the GustoMSC team, send an email with your details and we will contact you for a personal appointment. We look forward to telling you more.
Want to know more about GustoMSC's OSS system
GustoMSC's new generation service jack-up design provides a cost-effective solution with all the features to operate successfully in the Middle East. The JA-series benefits from the latest developments and builds on the reliable and robust property.
The new JA-series, fit for purpose
November 2022 Reading time: 6 min
A significant milestone was reached in June 2021 with the keel laying of Seaway7’s new wind turbine installation vessel ‘Seaway Ventus’ at CMHI shipyard in China. When completed in the summer of 2023, this vessel will be among the world’s most capable vessels of this kind. Designed by GustoMSC to the highest environmental standards and able to install future-generations of offshore wind turbines and XL monopile foundations. In this way it lives up to all the ESG ambitions of Seaway7. In this interview, Torgeir E. Ramstad, Executive Vice President Vessels & Offshore Resources, explains the strategy of the company. Seaway7 only decided to enter the wind turbine installation market one year ago. What future do you envision for this market? Our company aims to be a leading player in the bottom-fixed offshore wind industry, operating in the foundation, turbine, and cable installation segments. The offshore wind industry, and especially the bottom-fixed offshore wind industry, will have a great future in terms of growth in the coming decades. It’s a very competitive form of new energy and it is clean. It will provide a lot of opportunities for companies like Seaway7 and GustoMSC. So, we have great expectations for a long time to come. This is one of the reasons why we decided to invest tens of millions of dollars extra to make the vessel future-proof and why partnering with GustoMSC was essential. How important is sustainability? I have been active in the maritime sector for the last 20 years or so. First in oil and gas and then I switched to renewables about ten years ago. Safety is essential in both worlds. If you are unable to avoid causing harm to your own people or your clients' people or subcontracted personnel, you are essentially not qualified to work for these demanding oil and gas clients. We see the same developments regarding safety now in the offshore wind industry. However, over the last five years or so, environmental aspects have started to play an equally important role. To the same extent that we now promote sustainability, we see that our clients are also demanding it. For me and for Seaway7, sustainability is a ‘license to operate’, just like safety. We already demonstrated that with our legacy fleet of transportation vessels where we implemented a lot of environmental initiatives to cut energy consumption and thus emissions voluntarily. But we don’t see sustainability only in relation to what we do, i.e., installing wind farms, but also where our whole operational footprint is concerned. This means that, based on where we are today, we will always push for better environmental solutions along with higher efficiency and capabilities, of course. This will enable us to continue to reduce our footprint as we go forward. This is necessary because the ambitions and requirement to cut emissions go beyond our imagination. And there is a lot of room for improvement because I am convinced that if we fast-forward ten years ahead and look back, we will see that we are actually in the Stone Age today.
What role does Seaway Ventus play? In the summer of 2020, we took the decision to start with the construction of the Seaway Ventus because of the orders we had just secured. We decided to invest tens of millions of dollars extra in the environmental performance of this jack-up vessel. Of course, we could have said we don’t care about the environment, but that is a high business risk as well. If you make the wrong choices, based on the short term, your vessel could be obsolete after five or ten years because it no longer meets your clients’ requirements. A vessel is supposed to last for 25 to 30 years. That’s a huge responsibility because that means whatever you do, right or wrong, will have consequences for the vessel for much longer than the people who make the decisions now. The environment will suffer over a long period of time if you make the wrong decisions or don’t take your responsibility now. So, we took a proactive approach with the Ventus to make sure that the vessel is future-proof not only concerning its capacity and capabilities, but also where emissions are concerned. Capacity, capabilities, and emissions are the three main factors. The result is that the vessel – a self-propelled jack-up designed by GustoMSC – will have a best-in-class environmental footprint by means of energy and heat recovery, battery hybrid solutions, as well as sophisticated electrical and control systems. The Ventus will cut CO2-emission by at least 20% compared to similar units right after leaving the shipyard. We use a combination of traditional fuel systems, but we can reclaim energy and waste up to a high level and further reduce emissions. As a future option, the vessel has been prepared for fuel cells powered by hydrogen to cut emissions even further. When the hydrogen solution becomes available in a sustainable way there is even a potential of 50% emissions reduction. The Ventus is equipped with a telescopic leg crane. With an innovative combination of high hoisting capability of approx. 165 m for turbine installation, and heavy load capability of 2,500t for foundation installation, the vessel offers a future proof tool to efficiently handle the next generation WTGs.
For me and for Seaway7, sustainability means a license to operate just like safety.
Torgeir Ramstad EVP Vessels & Offshore Resources | Seaway7
Why was GustoMSC selected as one of the partners for the Ventus mission? First, we looked at the vessel’s purpose: what do you want to achieve with it? And what are the important performance and sustainability criteria? Then we examined the market, went through a research and development process, talked with clients and other companies, and looked at who can deliver a mature design. And I think that in that size category of ventures, there is actually nobody else who can do the job. We were looking for a partner on the design and advisory side that could provide a robust and mature design, where we could take it to the construction yard soon after the selection process and get a predictable execution for the building of the vessel. This partner should also come in with ideas, with relationships with key vendors, who could come up with new concepts to solve the issue of emissions or at least contribute to the reduction of emissions. And GustoMSC came in already with several key players that we adopted in the project execution and building of the vessel. We regard GustoMSC as the leading jack-up designer for both drilling and offshore wind projects. So, I think GustoMSC is a safe bet for anyone wanting to design and build a future proof jack-up. Was GustoMSC only involved as a designer? GustoMSC is a partner on the design side, but also for the key equipment like the leg jacking system and the crane fabrication and delivery. An advantage was also that the shipyard China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) had already built various vessels designed by GustoMSC, so it was familiar with the company and its mode of operation. By working closely with GustoMSC, the shipyard, and key vendors to optimize the design, the commercial and delivery terms are very attractive in today's market. However, GustoMSC can sometimes be a little conservative. We are not familiar with designing ships, but we do know about operating them. So, we had suggestions for adjusting their design to improve the flow of people and logistics on board. Sometimes it takes some efforts to convince the GustoMSC-team that, from an operational point of view, some of our ideas are improving the design. This is an area where we are really able to contribute with the operational aspects to optimize the design. What are the biggest challenges that your company is facing? I think the biggest challenges that Seaway7 is facing are the same as the biggest challenges for the offshore wind industry. Governments, business and energy companies have huge ambitions, and they want to do much more than we believe is possible. We see constraints and bottlenecks in many segments, in many aspects of what we do. Not least the fact that the turbines increase in size beyond what is currently possible. The challenge is maybe not so much due to the turbine and the turbine installation, but due to the foundations that they need to settle on. And that is a challenge that the industry does not know how to solve yet. With all these questions, GustoMSC can come in as an innovative vessel designer, can work with vendors who are at the forefront of technology to bring in large and small innovations. Large in the case of, for instance, new vessel concepts that can handle these bigger turbines and foundations, or small, for example, by contributing to solutions for the further reduction of emissions.
