Engineering contractor LiftOff has revealed its design for a new major component exchange vessel (MCEV).
The MCEV is a purpose-built vessel designed to transport multiple generators and gearboxes, making it ideal for both large-scale and smaller major component exchange projects. According to LiftOff, it will significantly shorten response times.
The DP2 MCEV features a custom up-tower crane with nacelle-mounted winches, enhancing safety by removing direct load connections to the vessel. The aft deck is equipped with a motion-compensated platform that carries cargo and major wind turbine components. A motion-compensated walk-to-work system ensures efficient crew and small component transfers.
“With a rapidly expanding offshore wind energy market, combined with an ageing fleet of installed wind turbines, operators face increasing delays due to limited jack-up and heavy-lift vessel availability,” the company said.
The vessel does not require seabed contact, unlike jack-up vessels, eliminating the need for pre-arrival site characterisation. The vessel also enables faster transit between turbines and sites, further reducing downtime.
“The MCEV allows us to scale our services and better support wind farm owners, operators and turbine OEMS across the globe,” said Eelko May, managing director of LiftOff.
