Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), MOL Drybulk and MOL Coastal Shipping have held a completion ceremony for the Wind Whale, a new coastal deck carrier for transporting heavy components. The vessel will be jointly owned by MOL and MOL Drybulk and operated by MOL Coastal Shipping, with support from MOL Drybulk.
It will transport offshore wind turbine foundations manufactured at JFE Engineering’s monopile production facility in Kasaoka, Okayama Prefecture, to offshore wind construction sites around Japan. The Wind Whale has a flat deck that allows wind turbine components, including monopiles, towers, blades, nacelles and floating foundations, to be loaded from the stern or sides using multi-axle trucks. The vessel is equipped with a dynamic positioning system and has greater weather resistance than non-self-propelled barges. This allows it to deliver components directly to wind turbine installation vessels at offshore construction sites.
