Ampelmann prepares for the growth of the offshore wind market in the USA

Ten years ago, Ampelmann introduced its first Walk to Work (W2W) system to the offshore energy market in the United States of America and today it is preparing for the imminent growth of the US offshore wind sector. Considered a pivotal year for the development of the industry, in 2022, new, ambitious State and Federal Government targets were set that called for the procurement of a combined total of 49.5GW of bottom fixed turbines by 2030 in addition to 15GW of floating wind by 2035.

While slow to develop, especially in contrast to onshore wind, offshore wind farms have become recognised as a potent addition to the US energy infrastructure that provide significant advantages due to their higher yield, consistency and proximity to major coastal cities. In the short term, construction efforts will be focussed on the East Coast, with more projects to follow in the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern Pacific. Though these daunting targets are hampered by supply chain inefficiencies and vessel shortages that might prove to be significant obstacles, the US will become a dominant player in the global offshore wind sector within the next decade.

Systems and Services

An early mover in the American wind business, Ampelmann is prepared for the take-off of US wind. Its motion compensated gangway systems are reliable and cost-effective access solutions that can perform throughout the year, simultaneously improving workability and providing safe access to personnel and cargo in rough sea states. The company opened its second US office in Boston, Massachusetts, to facilitate its business on the East Coast. With its diverse portfolio of systems and services, Ampelmann can supply its clients with the tools they need to maximise the efficiency of offshore operations.

In Europe and Asia, tried and tested solutions such as the A300 and the E1000 already see use in the offshore wind sector. The E1000, in particular, is well-known within the offshore energy sector as a robust and flexible access solution that can support both personnel and cargo operations in very rough sea states. Able to compensate for waves up to 4.5m Hs, the gangway can convert into a crane with a lifting capacity of a 1,000kg, ideal for lifting winches and generators. This system also has the capacity to support future floating wind scopes that require heavy duty gangways due to stronger waves on the open sea. Having successfully passed sea trials, one E1000 is currently supporting the construction of a major floating wind farm along the coast of Norway.

The A300 is an enhanced version of Ampelmann’s flagship A-type that can reliably transfer personnel and cargo in sea states up to 3m Hs. Based on a combination of proven A-type and E1000 technology, the gangway can be converted into a crane with a lifting capacity of 300kg, perfect for hoisting spare parts and heavy equipment during long construction and commissioning operations.

Within the next two years, six such systems will be deployed to the US to support the hook-up, cabling and commissioning of turbines on Vineyard and Southfork wind farms. Two more contracts have already been signed for 2024, when construction starts on Revolution and Sunrise wind farms, with additional work already lined-up for scopes on Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind in 2025. Alongside its systems, Ampelmann’s Operation Control Centre (OCC) will offer 24/7 support and through its digital platform, Ampelmann Insights, the company will provide workability forecasts and project management tools to further improve the workability and efficiency of offshore operations.

In the short and long term, the nascent SOV market will need to mature in tandem with the rising need to commission and maintain a growing number of wind turbines. Ampelmann’s new W-type has been purposely designed to suit the needs of this market and can also convert any vessel into a SOV. As the first fully modular electric system within its class, the W-type is energy efficient and has a low carbon footprint. It includes a lift and the height-adjustable gangway is wide enough to enable trolley access and can double up as a crane with a lifting capacity of two tonnes. Though this is a sold system that needs to be permanently fitted onto a vessel, clients will benefit from the company’s well-known services alongside it. The W-type is making strides in the European SOV market, with three systems already sold. The first one will become operational in Q4, 2023.

Founded on wind, and long since active in the offshore energy sector, Ampelmann has been working in the US for over a decade. Having experience with a multitude of distinct offshore wind scopes throughout the world and having provided safe offshore access to millions of people and thousands of tonnes of cargo, the company is prepared for the growth of the US wind market. With a diverse portfolio of systems tailored to every market segment, Ampelmann is making headway in the US wind business, paving the way towards the energy transition.

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