Our maritime mates at gCaptain have a taste for weird and unusual ships, and this week they call our attention to a new class of vessels that are purpose-built to install offshore wind turbines, like the Cape Wind project that will be erected off Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Meet the MPI Resolution, which has been keeping busy installing wind farms off the coast of the United Kingdom. gCaptain explains how the ship works:
The first purpose built TIV was the TIV Mayflower Resolution, currently known as the TIV Resolution & owned by MPI Offshore. This vessel utilizes both dynamic positioning (DP) and jack-up technology.
Equipped with 6 retractable legs, the Resolution sets up on location using DP, then elevates out of the water using its jack-up legs. This provides a stable platform to install the turbine on top of a previously prepared foundation. Once installed, the Resolution lowers back down to the water & moves to the next location, where the process is repeated. She has the capacity to carry 10 wind turbines.
This video shows the MPI Resolution in action:
As an added bonus, it seems there's a Flickr user who works on the MPI Resolution. Check out frogdog's pictures of the ship in action in his How To Build A Wind Farm In Easy To Follow Steps photoset.
Images: MPI Offshore
Ha! At first glance I thought it was one of those semi-submersibles, and to my delight it goes in completely the opposite direction. Cool!
Posted by: Weedlydeedly | 05 November 2010 at 11:04 AM