Olsen Windcarrier has successfully launched its Brave Tern jack-up installation vessel after the ship was transported from its construction site at Lamprell’s UAE fabrication yard.
Brave Tern, the first of two sisters ordered in 2010, was built several hundred metres from the sea, thus the launch was unlike a classical ship launch in that it ran over a total of six days.
The ship was trundled on a total of 414 axles corresponding to 1,600 wheels a distance of 700m to the quayside. With a transport weight of 12,200 tonnes, this load-out ranks as one of the heaviest vessel land moves in the world.
Shoreside transport was completed in less than three hours. Once the vessel was manoeuvred on to a submersible barge and the transport axles removed, the barge was then ballasted and the ship floated off.
It is now moored alongside for further fitting out prior to delivery in a few months by which time its tonnage will have increased to some 14,800 tonnes.
Tor Erik Andreassen, managing director at Fred Olsen Windcarrier, said of the launch: “Two years after signing the contract with Lamprell, the move of the first vessel from the construction site and into her natural wet environ ment is an important event marking a large step towards a successful delivery of our new-build.
“I was thrilled to personally witness the breathtaking move of the vessel to the quayside. Lamprell is well on track to deliver the high class product we ordered.”
Brave Tern is a GustoMSC NG-9000 design self-elevating and self-propelled offshore wind turbine installation vessel with an overall length of 131.72m, deck area of around 3,200sq.m, four 80m self-elevating legs and an 800-tonne “wrap around the leg” crane at 24m outreach (102m over deck). The vessel has accommodation for 80 personnel.