Heerema’s Heavy Lift Vehicles Support Offshore Wind Projects

Participates in largest US Offshore Wind Project

Dutch offshore contractor Heerema has been assigned to help build the first and largest commercial offshore wind farm in the United States. The prestigious 'Vineyard Wind LLC' project is the nation's first utility-scale offshore wind energy project. Situated 14 miles off the coast of Massachusetts, this project will generate clean, renewable, cost-competitive energy for over 400,000 homes and businesses, while reducing carbon emissions by over 1.6 million tons per year.

The contract for Heerema comprises in the (offshore) transport and installation (T&I) of 84 foundations consisting of monopiles and transition pieces and appurtenant ESP platforms in the Northeast of the US near the island of Martha's Vineyard.v

CEO Koos-Jan van Brouwershaven is excited: 'We are extremely proud to be part of the first and largest commercial offshore wind project in the United States. This project fits perfectly into Heerema's agenda to participate in innovative and sustainable projects. Our vessels are ideally suited to install specific infrastructure in complex conditions. As an experienced offshore contractor, Heerema is continuously seeking opportunities to further strengthen our position in the international offshore market through innovation, pro-activity and reliability. We expect that more of these exciting projects will follow in the near future.'v

The construction is expected to start next year and the wind farm is scheduled to be operational in 2021.

First wind project in Taiwan

Heerema Marine Contractors has signed a new contract to support the construction of a wind farm project, this time in Taiwan. Assigned by the Taiwan branch of Jan de Nul, Heerema will take on the installation of 21 jacket foundations (4 legged) for the Changhua project.

The Changhua Windfarm Phase 1 project is situated in Taiwanese waters and is a project of the Taiwan Power Company (TPC) and executed by a consortium of Jan de Nul and Hitachi. The installation will take place 8 km off the coast of Changhua county, at a water depth of 18 to 28 meters.

The installation will be done by Heerema’s fast sailing heavy lift vessel Aegir. Aegir is capable of executing challenging projects such as these and is perfectly suited to install the 21 foundations in the harsh conditions in which this project takes place. The foundations must be able to withstand extreme Taiwanese circumstances such as earthquakes, typhoons and high waves.

Koos-Jan van Brouwershaven, CEO of Heerema Marine Contractors is excited: ‘This is our first contract in Taiwan, thus another major milestone. This Changhua project re-emphasizes Heerema’s commitment to operate in wind projects all over the world and strengthen our position in the Asian offshore wind market.’

Van Brouwershaven praises the hands-on mentality of both Jan de Nul and Heerema contract teams. ‘The willingness to constantly seek cooperation between partners is what drives this team and Heerema as a company. With such a mindset we can jointly achieve anything.’ For Heerema, the offshore phase of this project will start in March 2020 with planned completion in early June 2020.

Maiden voyage for world's most sustainable crane vessel

In July 2019, Heerema’s newest vessel Sleipnir left upon her maiden voyage. Sleipnir, the world’s largest and strongest semi-submersible crane vessel (SSCV) was built in Singapore and will set course for Spain. The trip will take about 45 days and is schedule to wrap up in late August.

Sleipnir is designed to work on large offshore projects such as installing and removing jackets, topsides, deep-water foundations, moorings and other offshore structures, such as windmills. This unique vessel is the largest crane vessel yet built. It has the strongest pair of revolving cranes and also is the world’s first crane vessel with dual-fuel engines running on MGO and LNG, dramatically reducing harmful emissions.

The last two days bunkering of LNG took place 12 miles off the coast of Indonesia. Since LNG is not yet obtainable worldwide, Heerema is the first to perform an LNG bunkering in this area of the world. Heerema has selected Dutch company Titan LNG to help in this undertaking. Titan LNG has chartered a ship commercially managed by Anthony Veder, also Dutch, thus resulting in a unique Dutch cooperation.

Koos-Jan van Brouwershaven, CEO Heerema: “Not only is Sleipnir the world’s largest and strongest vessel, it is also first of its kind as far as sustainability goes. We are making offshore history. No other vessel has such numerous features. Our LED lights and shore power electricity are only a few examples of Heerema’s ambition in this area. Sustainability is an integral part of HMC's identity, embedded in our daily work practices. But we intend to do far more than that. Sleipnirs’ design clearly showcases Heerema’s dedication to sustainability beyond simply compliance. It shows that we act sustainable because we want to. Not because we have to. This specific project of bunkering LNG is proof of this ambition. We are very pleased to work together with Dutch Company Titan LNG, since it provided us with good solutions for bunkering, in Singapore as well as in Spain. The involvement of a second Dutch company, Anthony Veder, makes this maiden voyage extra special”.

“I’m extremely proud of the Titan team that has successfully completed the largest LNG bunkering in the World”, said Niels den Nijs, CEO Titan LNG. “It was a complex project to supply this eight-legged innovative crane vessel, the Sleipnir.

I’d like to thank Pavilion Gas and SLNG for the support in Singapore and Anthony Veder, our shipping partners, that completed this Dutch-Singaporean project. Titan LNG looks forward to supplying Heerema with more LNG in the future to fulfil our mission of lowering harmful emissions of the marine and industrial sector.”

Jan Valkier, CEO of Anthony Veder says: “We are excited by serving Heerema’s Sleipnir with this LNG bunkering operation, in cooperation with Titan LNG, and look forward to many more. Shortly after adding Coral Fraseri to our fleet we have already mobilized her in the small-scale LNG market, which underlines our strong position and commitment in supplying the maritime industry worldwide sustainable solutions for LNG as marine fuel.”

In its trip to Spain, Sleipnir will round South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. In the Mediterranean, Titan LNG will again supply the Sleipnir using the Coral Fraseri that will pass through the Suez Canal.