DNV GL has presented China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) with Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate for its wind turbine shuttle (WTS). The wind turbine shuttle was developed to install offshore wind turbines and has a small waterplane area twin hull (SWATH) design.This results in low resistance at the design draught (16m) and good seakeeping performance, good motion behaviour characteristics, and a transit speed of 14 knots. The vessel is capable of transporting and installing two fully assembled wind turbines or two wind turbine foundations and it has a dynamic positioning system installed and the wind turbine hoist tackles are equipped with an active system to compensate for the heave motion of the vessel. The WTS can provide a "one-piece" installation service for offshore wind turbines, as well as jacket foundations, piles, and other components.
