In the past 12 months we have seen orders for new Wind Turbine Installation Vessels placed, new builds started and others completed and delivered. These vessels have got bigger and stronger’wlth larger cranes, and higher jacking possibilities. The specifications of almost every dimension have increased. Offshore WIND has spoken to some of the new owners of these vessels and asked them what makes their vessel special and their prospects for the future.

Not all the owners/operators have the same view of what is the ideal WTIV. Most agree that due to increased turbine size these vessels have to be so much bigger than the first generation. Not all of them have chosen to make them self-elevating or even self-propelled, but these exceptions are in the minority. Some of them have chosen to be cautious and not placed building orders before contracts are clear, and some have thrown caution to the wind, in the belief that contracts will follow. A Middle East WTIV builder recently told Offshore WIND that the 20 or so WTIV’s either currently built or ordered were only 50% of what they expected to be needed in the future. If this is true then throwing caution to the wind will pay off, for this generation, at least.