NYK and Van Oord have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly own and operate offshore wind installation vessels under the Japanese flag.


 

The partners aim to start operating a jack-up vessel in Japan by 2022 at the earliest. According to NYK, the vessel will have a crane capacity of more than 1,000 tonnes and will be suitable to install the latest generation of wind turbines.

The collaboration will make use of Van Oord’s technical and operational expertise in the offshore wind energy market and NYK Group’s knowledge of the Japanese market.

NYK and Van Oord are also exploring opportunities to collaborate on other types of vessels required for the construction and operation of offshore wind farms.

The offshore wind market in Japan is growing. During April 2019, a new law came into force that aims to facilitate the sector’s development further. NYK explained: “Challenges for the development of offshore wind in Japan include the lack of resources (experienced workforce and specialised equipment required for the installation of the large foundations and turbines for offshore wind farms). By joining forces, NYK and Van Oord intend to meet these challenges and contribute to the successful development of offshore wind as a sustainable energy source for Japanese society.”

www.nyk.com

www.vanoord.com