Cadeler will power its wind turbine installers using MAN mixed engine concept

Cadeler F-class can convert from being a foundation installation vessel (WFIV) to a wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV)

The two X-class and two F-class vessels on order at the COSCO Heavy Industries shipyard in China for Danish wind turbine installation vessel specialist Cadeler A/S will use a mix of medium- and high-speed MAN engines to enable them to deliver the largest lifting capacity thus far seen in the segment.

Scheduled for delivery from 2024 through 2026, Cadeler’s X-class vessels are designed to operate at some of the most difficult sites around the globe with a deck space of 5,600 square meters, a payload of over 17,600 tons and main crane capacity of >2,000 tons at 53 meters. The F-class has similar specifications but is uniquely flexible and can be quickly converted from a foundation-installation unit to a wind-turbine-generator installation vessel.

”We are currently building four unique, pure-play, offshore vessels that aim at installing the foundations and wind turbines of the future,” said Cadeler’s CEO, Mikkel Gleerup. “In order for our vessels to optimally operate, we need engines that meet our requirements by delivering the needed lifting capacity. Our cooperation with MAN has been a good and steady one throughout the years. We chose them as supplier as they have demonstrated the ability to deliver a product that is innovative and of high standard, which will be a good fit with the rest of the vessels’ capabilities.”

Each vessel will feature an engine configuration based on a mixed MAN medium- and high-speed engine concept with two 6L32/44CR and two 9L32/44CR medium-speed engines plus two 12V175D high-speed engines. Each engine will also feature SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) and meet IMO Tier III emission standards.

“This is a unique application that will set a new standard for offshore turbine installation and sustainable marine operations, as well as being a great showcase for our mixed-engine concept,” said Elvis Ettenhofer, head of marine four-stroke APAC, MAN Energy Solutions.”With its reliability and long times between overhauls, the 175D has the DNA of a medium-speed engine, which is why it matches so well with our 32/44 units. Only MAN can provide this unique engine-configuration with the highest efficiency, lower weight and a greater payload; this represents real value for our customer, Cadeler.”

The F-class jack-ups will be able to transport and install seven complete 15MW turbine sets per load or six sets of 2XL monopile foundations per round-trip – a substantial improvement in efficiency over existing vessels. The vessels will also feature a unique design that enables their conversion from foundation-installation to wind-turbine-installation vessels (WTIVs).

The MAN medium and high-speed engine concept involves frameless 2 × MAN 6L32/44CR + 2 × MAN 9L32/44CR + 2 × MAN 12V175D engines and offers a number of advantages:

• space savings – including small total genset footprint and compact SCR sizes – minimises engine room and funnel space, leading to larger deck area;

• optimized power/weight ratio with the mixed engine concept including the frameless design for the medium-speed 32/44CR engines. In this instance, the total engine weight of the Cadeler project is around 200 tonnes. This is a new benchmark that saves fuel, CO2 emissions and increases the payload

• optimized OPEX through low SFOC during low-load operation and off-engine when not required. This delivers an efficient fuel consumption and reduced engine-operating hours

• increased redundancy – the 32/44CR and 175D lead in engine dynamics and load ramp-up. Hence, it is possible to have a minimum number of gensets online

The engines are equipped with the latest generation of common-rail systems and can be adapted to operate on low or neutral CO2 fuels.