Synergies that energize - delivering complex service packages that cut costs and increase efficiencies

Introduction

At any given time offshore wind construction and maintenance ports are ideal places for vessel spotters. That's because typically quite a few crew transfer vessels can be found mooring. Especially the last winter saw such a plentiful supply of ctvs that several operators were struggling to find work for their vessels. As we move into 2017 though and construction increases in both the UK and Germany (currently the two largest markets in Europe), however, ctvs available for charter are set to become a rare species. How do we ensure that we enable the efficient access to offshore wind farms without creating an oversupply that will come back to haunt vessel owners in the winter period?
Access remains a central topic for both construction and O&M. Over the last three years at least a variety of solutions and access means (CTV, SOV, helicopters) has been discussed, without the industry being able to settle and agree on one single method.

Approach

The presentation will analyse current models of access against future requirements. It will also draw on existing project experience from the UK and Germany to generate models for future projects.

Main body of abstract

The presentation seeks to set out a number of potential solutions to both the question of access and the question of sharing resources. Can we share vessels across contractors on the same site? Can we share vessels across sites, at what distance can this work, when do distances become too far for this approach?
There is prior experience of resource sharing from near shore farms such as the Vattenfall sites of Thanet and Kentish Flats. What can we learn for near shore farms elsewhere? The presentation will also outline the key difficulties in terms of access and try to extrapolate near shore experience to make suggestions for more cost-effective access solutions for farshore situations.
The presentation will also set out what the supply chain requires in terms of contractual models and contract visibility to be able to support the increased activities post-207 and enable resource sharing.

Conclusion

Finding the right quantity and method of access is crucial to the industry in its aim to reduce the cost of energy. While the supply chain is keen to support the reduction in cost, it is unreasonable to expect large investment in vessel capex, if vessel usage will drop sharply after the next construction boom. The presentation will set out ways in which we can achieve safe, efficient access and availability without producing fleets of 'white elephant' ctvs.


Learning objectives
Delegates will learn which contractual constructs have been tried, with what results and how we can further improve on access and availability.
They will also learn about feasible patterns and methods of access and resource sharing in the supply chain.