An EIVA system solution has passed a factory acceptence test (FAT) and is set for delivery to offshore wind farm installation and service provider A2SEA. The second of two complete navigation and leg penetration / barge displacement monitoring system solutions to be delivered to the company, the system is part of a $155m contract that A2SEA signed with marine engineering company COSCO Group in 2012.
With final vessel delivery set for 2014, the contract covers the construction of the jack-up vessel Sea Challenger. Designed for offshore wind farm installation under demanding conditions and at deep depths, it will be the second of two sister vessels delivered to A2SEA that includes an EIVA solution.
A2SEA head of newbuilding said Michael Østergaard: "In our efforts to continue the standardisation of equipment and instruments onboard our installation vessels, we have chosen to use equipment from EIVA on our second newbuilding Sea Challenger. Similar equipment can be found on all our installation vessels."
Pooling the benefits of a variety of equipment
The EIVA NaviSuite navigation and sonar software constitutes the core of the complete navigation and leg penetration / barge displacement monitoring system solution. It integrates data from the Spectra Precision PF800 GPS, Kongsberg Mesotech sonar and Teledyne RD Instrument ADCP solutions that are also included in the delivery.
The integration of the software and hardware equipment ensures a complete and detailed overview of barge position and attitude during jack up, and subsidence when the vessel is jacked up, translating into streamlined operations and instant manoeuvrability of the 132m-long vessel that can carry up to eight 3.6MW turbines.
Joining a long-standing jack-up club
With the increasing international focus on ensuring a stable supply of renewable energy, the demand for jack-up vessels and consequently navigation and leg penetration / barge displacement monitoring system solutions is growing. EIVA’s system solution is already installed on a long list of vessels operating wind farms in the Baltic and North Sea.
EIVA sales and marketing manager Palle Herskind said: "Sea Challenger is designed to operate in the demanding conditions of Northern Europe. This made our system solution a perfect match, as we have a long-standing record of building this type of system solution to companies working under similar conditions."
Image: A2SEA A/S’ Sea Installer, the sister vessel of Sea Challenger. Source: A2SEA A/S.