Installation Vessel and Method for Offshore Wind Turbine in Ultra-Shallow Water

Compared to onshore wind turbines, offshore wind turbines take advantage of wind speeds which are more constant and stronger than those on land. Since many large electricity load centers are located near coastline in China, larger wind turbines can be installed closer to these areas to supply energy in a more economical way. Wind turbine transportation and installation are key issues for offshore wind farm construction, especially for large size turbine installation in ultra-shallow water like intertidal zone with water depth less than 5m. The traditional installation vessels with large design drafts are likely to be trapped in shallow water zones. It is usually impossible to carry out turbine installation in shallow water. This paper presents a set of innovative installation vessel concept and corresponding methods for ultra-shallow water zone include ultra-shallow draft crane vessel and ultra-shallow draft barge. The main purpose is to simplify the installation procedures and reduce total investment.