Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) will develop its own model of Wind Turbine Installation Vessel (WTIV), which is integrated with eco-friendly technology, in line with the growth of the global offshore wind power market.
SHI announced on April 8 that it has simultaneously obtained the industry's first "Approval in Principle" for concept design of low carbon-emitting WTIV (model name SLW-FUEL CELL) from the world's three largest ships classification -- ABS (US), DNV (Norway), and LR (British).
WTIV, developed by SHI, can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 50% compared to conventional diesel-engine ships as it combines eco-friendly technologies such as LNG-enabled dual engines, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and energy storage system (ESS).
WTIV is also suitable for enhanced environmental regulations and has high power efficiency, which can significantly reduce ship operating costs.
It is also expected to secure strong competitiveness by reducing costs due to technology fee payment and equipment selection restrictions, away from relying on overseas engineering companies that monopolize WTIV design technology.
To this end, SHI joined hands with Hyosung Heavy Industries in December last year to develop a joint technology for localizing the WTIV core equipment.
The jacking system is the highest-difficulty mechanical technology that supports a crane load of up to 2500 tons by supporting WTIV with a mass of more than 40,000 tons in the air from the sea level.
"The growth of the wind power market, one of the key pillars of the Green New Deal policy, will further expand demand for WTIV," said Lee Wang-geun, head of SHI's maritime business.
SHI is the first Korean shipbuilder to win a WTIV order in 2010, and has accumulated construction technology and experience by successfully delivering a total of three ships so far.
