ABS has awarded Approval in Principle (AIP) to Ned Project for its hydrogen-ready wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) design. The NP20000X ULAM design is intended to be Jones Act Compliant and able to meet future offshore wind market demands, specifically operations involving 15-20 MW wind turbine installations.Its approach loads monopiles vertically on the 8,000 m2 deck, eliminating the need to rotate monopiles to the vertical position at sea, increasing efficiency and safety. The design is equipped with a leg encircling heavy cargo crane with a working load of 3,500 metric tons capable of handling turbines of 240-meter rotor diameter and 150-meter tower height. The design is hydrogen-ready with the engine rooms able to be converted into fuel cell compartments accommodating polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, making it possible to rely solely on liquefied hydrogen (LH2) to meet its energy demands. Ned Project is working with GPZ Energy to develop ULAM WTIV projects for the US market.
