Package delivery offshore

Challenge

In offshore wind turbine inspections and maintenance operations, technicians frequently find themselves in need of spare parts, tools, or smaller electrical components while working atop turbines. Traditionally, acquiring these additional supplies has entailed a time-consuming process involving the descent of technicians from the turbine to collect equipment either delivered by the service vessel or via a transfer boat. This method not only adds extra time and costs for crews and vessels but also incurs additional fuel expenses and poses security risks for turbine technicians.

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Solution

To address this inefficiency, we propose the implementation of a drone-based equipment transport system, facilitating the seamless transfer of essential items between a service vessel and a wind turbine along an adjustable route. Our ongoing development efforts focus on creating an offshore package delivery system designed to transport packages from a vessel directly to the nearest wind turbine. With a capacity to cover a distance of 4 km and carry payloads weighing up to 5 kg, this innovative solution promises to revolutionize offshore maintenance logistics.

The potential cost savings afforded by this system are manifold, directly correlating with the reduction in turbine downtime, technician wait times for spare parts and tools, as well as the operational expenses incurred by crew and fuel for service vessels. By mitigating the need for vessels to return to turbines for equipment transport, the offshore package delivery system stands to optimize processes and significantly enhance the overall efficiency of offshore wind farm operations.

In exploring scenarios where Upteko’s drone-based transport system supplants crew transfer/service vessels (CTVs) and helicopters, our projections suggest potential savings ranging between €1.7 and €5.5 million anually. These estimations are grounded in standard pricing models, downtime considerations, and the number of technicians typically involved in a given assignment, compared against the anticipated costs and downtime associated with adopting the drone-based transport system.

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In Conclusion

The introduction of an offshore package delivery system heralds a transformative leap forward in offshore wind turbine maintenance logistics, promising substantial cost savings, enhanced operational efficiency, and heightened safety for technicians. As we continue to refine and implement this cutting-edge solution, we anticipate a paradigm shift in how offshore maintenance tasks are executed, paving the way for a more sustainable and streamlined future in the renewable energy sector.