Areva has become the latest company to ensure it has installation vessel capacity at its beck and call through a tie-up with the partnership of German company Hochtief Solutions and GeoSea of Belgium.
The duo have just taken delivery of the heavy-lift jack-up Innovation, which will be used for the upcoming installation of Areva’s new M5000 class wind turbine.
Purpose-built for offshore renewables plant installation, Areva says the vessel further strengthens the group’s competitive offshore business model.
Innovation was built by HGO InfraSea Solutions, which is a joint company between Hochtief Solutions and GeoSea.
Areva Wind became involved in the design process at the outset in 2010. The 147m, self-elevating vessel has a cargo capacity of up to 8,000 tonnes, craneage capability of 1,500 tonnes, can operate in water depths to 65m and has a top speed of 12 knots.
It has accommodation for 180 persons . . . ship’s crew and contractors.
Louis-François Durret, CEO of Areva Renewables, said at Innovation’s inauguration in Bremerhaven: “With this new and powerful jack-up vessel, we will be able to offer optimised logistic offshore solutions to our customers.
“It is designed to optimise installation and reduce on-site installation time.
“Innovation is a milestone for our business model and strikes the importance of strategic partnerships for offshore industry.”