Method for the Operational Weather Window Assessment of Self-Elevating Wind Turbine Installation Vessels

With the gradual shift of offshore wind energy development towards deep-sea exploration, large-scale construction of wind farms, and the increasing capacity of individual offshore wind turbine generators (WTGs), the next generation of wind turbine installation vessels (WTIVs) is rapidly evolving towards larger sizes and integrated operational modes. These vessels achieve complete coverage of the independent operational procedures from loading at the dock, transportation to the wind farm, vessel installation, and crane operations in elevated condition. This study uses a new generation of WTIV operating in the waters of Guangdong Province as a case study. It starts with the capabilities of the construction equipment itself, integrating ship model testing methods, hydrodynamic analysis based on wave potential theory and finite element method (FEM) analysis to evaluate the target vessel’s motion response, DP capabilities, and the maximum load-bearing capacity of critical structures such as legs and spudcans. By also considering motion sickness incidence (MSI) and the capabilities of the jacking system, the study establishes the sea state limitations for the target vessel under different operational conditions. Ultimately, by comprehensively considering the time allocation of each operational procedure, the annual operational window period for the new generation of WTIVs is estimated to be approximately 250 days, representing an improvement of about 1.5 times compared to older generation vessel operational modes. This operational window period analysis not only encompasses the entire operational workflow but also systematically investigates the load-bearing characteristics of WTIVs under various operational conditions, fully tapping into the potential of structural designs and key equipment.