Maersk Offshore Wind is a new company created by A.P. Moller Holding that will provide installation services to the offshore wind sector, using the Maersk offshore wind installation vessel (Maersk WIV) concept.
This is said to reduce the installation times for offshore wind turbines compared with conventional methods, also lowering the overall cost for the developers. The first vessel is due to be delivered in 2025.
With the EU and US targeting a total installed capacity of at least 90 GW offshore wind by 2030, and more than 400 GW by 2050, deployments need to speed up accordingly, said the new company’s owners.
They expect Maersk Offshore Wind to cut typical installation times by about 30%. Maersk Supply Service, which DOF Group is acquiring, designed and developed the concept and has been marketing it since 2018. The newly formed company, with about 40 staff, will be based in Denmark.
The Maersk WIV vessel has been developed to be permanently stationed at the wind farm to perform successive installations, while purpose-built tugs and barges bring in wind turbine components from the load-out port.
Both the Maersk WIV and the feeder vessels are equipped with new locking and stabilizing technology said to support safe operations in harsh environments, also reducing the number of days required to install the wind farm.
Seatrium is building the first Maersk WIV in Singapore. It should be delivered in mid-2025 and will head to the US east coast to install Empire Offshore Wind, which is owned by Equinor.
