Engineering firm ABB has been selected to supply the power and propulsion package for offshore contractor Allseas' new heavy transport vessel Grand Tour, which will support the European offshore wind industry as the continent accelerates build-out of large-scale wind farms requiring increasingly massive offshore infrastructure.

The 230-meter semi-submersible vessel is currently under construction at Guangzhou Shipyard International in China and is scheduled to enter service in 2028, ABB said in an emailed statement on Tuesday.

Grand Tour is designed to transport large offshore wind converter stations — the substations that collect and convert electricity generated by wind turbines before transmitting it to onshore grids — from fabrication facilities across Asia and Europe to Allseas' construction vessel Pioneering Spirit for installation. As offshore wind farms move further from shore and grow in capacity, these converter platforms have grown in size and weight, creating demand for dedicated heavy-transport tonnage capable of moving them efficiently across long distances. The vessel's stern deck will have a carrying capacity of up to 40,000 tonnes. To load the converter stations, the vessel will submerge its deck below the waterline, allowing the structures to be floated onboard before repositioning alongside Pioneering Spirit.

ABB's propulsion package comprises four 3.5 MW Azipod propulsion units, each capable of rotating 360 degrees to deliver the maneuverability and station-keeping precision required during complex offshore loading and transfer operations. The gearless Azipod design is also engineered to reduce fuel consumption, noise, vibration, and maintenance requirements.

In addition to the propulsion units, ABB will provide a medium-voltage power plant, a power and energy management system, and remote condition monitoring capabilities as part of the integrated package.

Source: Ship & Bunker