Demonstration Installation Capability
Jumbo Offshore has completed a short series of tests to demonstrate its installation capabilities in high tidal current velocities. Its DP2 Offshore Heavy Lift Vessels proved ideally suited for the installation of tidal generators currently being developed by different companies, such as Swanturbines, OpenHydro and Atlantis. Because Jumbo’s vessels can transport and install up to eight units in a single trip and have dynamic positioning systems, Jumbo can make optimum use of available tidal windows. This leads to efficient installation as well as removing logistics issues for the upcoming commercial developments of large scale subsea tidal energy farms.
To demonstrate the capacity of the DP2-system, Jumbo mobilised its HLV Fairplayer to the Orkney Islands test site of the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) for a three day test campaign. During this campaign, the vessel showed its potential in the company of several tidal energy researchers and developers. Amongst them were representatives of EMEC, Swanturbines (subsea generators) and other developers.
The tests were successful and have confirmed Jumbo’s ability to install generators weighing up to 1,100 t. With over 3,000 m2 of cargo deck, Jumbo’s DP2-vessels have the capacity to transport and install the largest and heaviest of marine generators directly onto the seabed within a tidal flow site. The sea trials demonstrated the vessel’s ability to hold station and precisely manoeuvre in the most aggressive and fast flowing spring tides.