The Maersk Offshore Wind concept involves faster turbine installation

Maersk Offshore Wind is a new company created by AP Moller Holding that will provide installation services to the offshore wind sector using the installation vessel Maersk Offshore WindI Concept (Maersk WIV).

This is said to shorten the time it takes to install offshore wind turbines compared to conventional methods, as well as lowering the overall cost for developers. The first vessel is due to be delivered in 2025.

The new company’s owners said the EU and the US have set themselves the goal of achieving a combined installed capacity of at least 90 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and more than 400 GW by 2050, so implementation needs to be accelerated accordingly.

They expect Maersk Offshore Wind to reduce typical installation times by about 30%. Maersk Supply Service, which DOF Group is taking over, designed, developed and marketed the concept since 2018. The new company, which will employ about 40 people, will be headquartered in Denmark.

The Maersk WIV vessel is designed to be permanently stationed at the wind farm to carry out subsequent installations, while purpose-built tugboats and barges transport the wind turbine components from the transhipment port.

Both the Maersk WIV and the supply vessels have been equipped with new locking and stabilisation technology to ensure safe operations in difficult conditions as well as reduce the number of days needed for wind farm installation.

Seatrium is building the first Maersk WIV in Singapore. It should be delivered in mid-2025 and will be shipped to the US east coast for installation by Equinor’s Empire Offshore Wind.