Researchers from SINTEF are exploring a new method for transporting heavy substructures for offshore wind turbines using an unusually wide barge. Weighing thousands of tonnes, these substructures can currently only be lifted by a handful of vessels globally. Collaborating with Aker Solutions, Sarens, and BOA, the team conducted tests in SINTEF’s Ocean Basin, aiming to transport multiple substructures simultaneously.
The proposed barge measures 166 meters in length and over 73 meters in width, making it one of the widest in the world. It can be submerged to over 30 meters, allowing for innovative unloading methods. The cargo can be floated out without a crane vessel or lifted using smaller, more cost-effective vessels.
Initial tests were part of the WindRise project, focusing on the feasibility of transporting two substructures at once and subsequently raising them at their destination. Robert Indergård, a senior research scientist at SINTEF, expressed satisfaction with the results, which align with prior numerical analyses. The barge includes a lifting frame and hinge system, and ongoing work will determine how to position the substructures on the seabed effectively. Success in this project could bolster Norway’s offshore wind supply industry.
