Penta-Ocean Construction, a Japanese general contractor, has commissioned Ulstein Design & Solutions BV to design its new heavylift vessel for offshore wind foundation installation.
The customised ULSTEIN HX118 design will feature a 5,000-ton Huisman main crane and the ULSTEIN U-STERN, which enables installation of increasingly larger monopile foundations.
Following feasibility and concept studies in 2023, Penta-Ocean Construction selected Ulstein for the project.
Ulstein proposed the HX118 with the U-STERN™, a design that builds on Ulstein’s successful track record of crane vessels.
The selected design offers a well-balanced combination of a flush work deck, lifting capacity, accommodation and DP capability and will be the largest X-BOW® vessel to date.
The U-STERN™, developed by Ulstein, features longitudinal storage and upending of monopiles along the ship’s centreline.
This innovation enables the installation of longer monopiles without overhanging the ship’s sides and allows the vessel to face into the waves during the installation, minimising ship motions and fuel consumption.
Since last summer, Ulstein has been collaborating with Penta-Ocean Construction on the Basic Design of the heavy lift vessel, including an extensive model test program. The design is being developed at Ulstein’s Rotterdam office, with significant support from Ulstein Poland during the Basic Design phase.
