Conquest Offshore and deugro Denmark A/S, with the engineering companies Temporary Works Design (TWD) and Barge Master, have presented their newly developed installation system for monopiles, transition pieces (TPs) and pre-piling of jackets.
The 136 by 36 meter Conquest MB1 barge is the perfect tool to execute this kind of work. Three monopiles and 3 to 16 transition pieces, can be stored on deck by the effective skidding system. Upending can be done on deck or floating.
The challenge is the floating installation of monopiles. The specially designed motion compensated pile gripper (MCPG) is the key in this operation.
While hammering the pile, hydraulic cylinders actively compensate the surge, sway and heave motions of the barge to ensure the vertical position within limits. The gripper and the relative good workability of the Conquest MB1 barge, with its anti-heeling system (8000 m3 per hour), creates a game changer in offshore wind industry, Conquest Offshore said.
The system has been presented to the public via animation videos.