ALE and Mercon join forces to introduce innovative solution for offshore met mast installation.
The two companies have worked together to provide their new eco friendly concept, EMI or Eco Met mast Installation.
The new system allows a completed met mast and foundation to be transported horizontally in one piece on a barge, upended into a vertical position by a bespoke and unique frame, and installed in a single operation. Once the piece is lowered pumps are used to suck the foundation of the structure into the seabed.
Kees Kompier Executive Director at ALE said “The EMI installation method is much quicker and cheaper than the current more conventional ways. Firstly, an expensive installation vessel is not needed, a standard barge equipped with the upending frame will do. Secondly, no hammering is necessary which also saves costs and results in much less impact on the environment and sea life.”
The installation concept was first designed in 2010 for a Shell UK and NAM (the Dutch Natural Gas company) project and has subsequently been patented. The system was successfully used for the first time in September 2011 for the installation of a Riser Access Towers.
Reactions from the wind market related parties are very positive and indicate this new concept has a bright future.
Marc van der Linden, Director Eneco Wind: “We have started ‘project Offshore 2.0’ which is our own program to make Offshore wind a commercially viable source of energy in the next decade. At Eneco, we are very pleased to see that market participants like Mercon and ALE join forces and come up with innovative, and at the same time, low cost solutions.”