DEME orders next generation offshore installation vessel ‘Orion’

‘Orion’ will feature an unrivalled combination of exceptionally high transport and load capacity, impressive lifting heights and green technology. The vessel will be built at COSCO in China and is set to be delivered in 2019.

‘Orion’ will be deployed by DEME’s subsidiary GeoSea for the construction of the largest offshore wind farms, to service the oil and gas industry and for decommissioning of offshore installations.

With a total installed capacity of 44,180 kW ‘Orion’ will be equipped with a high-tech crane with lifting capacity of 3,000 tonnes at more than 50 metres. The loads can be lifted to an unrivalled height of more than 170 m. Deck space has been maximised to provide exceptionally high transport and load capacity. The vessel can take the heaviest monopiles, jackets, wind turbine components and structures in a single shipment. With this unmatched combination of high load and lifting capacity, ‘Orion’ can transport and install the next generation of giant multi-megawatt wind turbines.

Environmental considerations have been an important element of the vessel design. ‘Orion’ has dual fuel engines and can run on natural gas (LNG). It will have a Green Passport and Clean Design notation. It will also have other environmental innovations on board, such as a waste heat recovery system that converts heat from the exhaust gasses and cooling water to electrical energy.

The 216.5 metres long Orion, featuring DP3 capability, can accommodate a crew of up to 131 people.

Luc Vandenbulcke, Managing Director GeoSea: “With ‘Orion’ we will be uniquely positioned to meet the future requirements of our customers and the trend towards larger capacity turbines and bigger wind farm projects, delivering energy at lower costs. ‘Orion’ will be capable of installing mega monopiles at greater depths. With DP3 technology the offshore installation vessel can continue operations under the most challenging conditions.”

Image Source: DEME