In offshore wind power projects, barges play an extremely important and irreplaceable role in the construction process. From transporting oversized and overweight equipment to supporting the installation of large components on the sea surface, barges have become an indispensable tool in the implementation process. So why do barges play such an important role? Let’s learn more about the role of barges in offshore wind power construction with SMC.
Mục lục - Table of Contents
1. Barges create a solid foundation for offshore wind power construction
The big difference between onshore and offshore wind power construction lies in the construction foundation. Onshore, contractors have a stable surface, but at sea, the harsh environment with large waves and fluctuating tides is a big challenge. In this context, barges become a solid foundation for the construction and installation of offshore wind power projects. Barges provide an ideal surface for cranes to operate, while ensuring that engineers and workers can work with the highest precision.
Not only does it help create stability, barges also help maximize the working capacity of lifting equipment, minimizing safety risks when installing heavy equipment such as pylons, generators, turbine blades, and other equipment.
Barges help maximize the working capacity of lifting equipment during the construction of offshore wind power projects.
2. Transporting oversized and overweight equipment to sea
In offshore wind power projects, components such as towers, blades, and generators are very large in size and weight. Transporting them from land to sea is not only a complex task but also requires absolute safety and precision. Barges with their large capacity have become the ideal means to help optimize the transportation and construction of offshore wind power.
Thanks to their sturdiness and high load-bearing capacity, barges help move important equipment safely, ensuring they reach the installation location on time. This not only saves construction time but also optimizes resources and costs for contractors. In particular, barge transportation also helps minimize risks when moving at sea, where there are always potential risks due to harsh weather and environment.
Barges help move critical equipment safely, ensuring they reach their installation location on time.
3. Barges as temporary storage for offshore wind power construction
Another important role of the barge is to act as a temporary storage facility for wind turbine components prior to their installation. This helps to optimize the installation process and minimize waiting times, while allowing the assembly stages to continue without interruption. Using the barge as a mobile storage facility at sea increases project delivery flexibility, allowing contractors to adjust plans and schedules quickly, based on actual site conditions.
Barges also help speed up the construction of offshore wind power projects, as they provide a stable platform for workers and construction equipment to operate more easily in rough sea conditions. This is extremely important when installing wind turbines that are huge and require high precision.
4. Comfortable working and living environment for personnel at sea
Offshore wind projects do not last for just a few days but often last for months. Therefore, creating a comfortable working and living environment for workers and engineers is extremely important. The barge is designed with all the necessary infrastructure to serve the living and working needs of personnel at sea. Living areas such as bedrooms, kitchens, and rest rooms are arranged reasonably, helping to maintain good health and spirit for the personnel.
This is especially important when working in offshore environments, where harsh working conditions and time pressures can have a significant impact on health and performance. Barges not only ensure that workers and engineers have good living conditions, but also help to optimise work efficiency and minimise health and safety risks.
Watch more videos about The silent sacrifices of offshore wind power installation workers: Here.
5. Advanced safety and stability system
To ensure that the barges can operate stably and safely in rough sea conditions, they are equipped with modern support systems. The ballast tank system and ballast pumps help to adjust the barge’s balance, while the mooring pile system and positioning baskets help to maintain position even in strong sea currents. Thanks to these systems, the barges can maintain high balance and stability, creating ideal conditions for the construction and installation of turbine equipment at sea.
In addition, safety measures such as anti-collision systems and emergency rescue measures are also integrated on the barge, ensuring the safety of workers and equipment throughout the construction process. This helps to minimize the risk of work accidents and protect important assets of the project.
SMC currently owns a diverse barge system with various loads, optimally serving the transportation and construction of offshore wind power.
6. SMC – Leading in providing barges for offshore wind power construction
SMC currently owns a diverse barge system with payloads ranging from 7,688 tons to 14,049 tons, optimally serving the transportation and construction of offshore wind power. In particular, SMC’s 12,995T and 14,049T barges are also equipped with offshore wind power installation support cranes such as 1,250-ton crawler cranes, auxiliary cranes such as 250-ton and 55-ton crawler cranes, these auxiliary cranes can be integrated depending on the requirements of each project. This helps SMC be flexible in meeting the technical requirements of each project.
In addition, SMC also owns two 7,688T barges dedicated to transporting wind turbine components and other supporting equipment. With this modern fleet of barges, SMC not only ensures construction progress but also optimizes costs and resources for offshore wind power projects.
Thanks to the contribution of barges, offshore wind projects are not only feasible but also achieve maximum efficiency in terms of time, cost and safety. Barges are a key element in the offshore wind power construction process, helping to optimize every stage from transportation, installation to logistics, making an important contribution to the development of the renewable energy industry and bringing a sustainable future for clean energy sources.
