Offshore wind turbine installation vessel dynamic positioning capability analysis with considering installation structures

Dynamic Positioning (DP) is a system that uses computer-controlled thrusters, propellers, and other propulsion devices to automatically maintain a vessel's position and heading. In this study, a wind turbine installation vessel with DP capabilities was proposed for use in mild environmental conditions in the Yellow Sea. The thruster arrangements of the vessel were analyzed in relation to wind and current loads, and it was found that a four-corner arrangement of thrusters provided the best position-keeping performance. The vessel's DP control performance was also analyzed in relation to the increased environmental load caused by the presence of a wind turbine, using a capability plot. The vessel's performance was evaluated in three different states: floating with no load, during the loading of a wind turbine and suction buckets, and after the wind turbine has been installed. The use of 750 kW and 1,000 kW thrusters was also considered, and the environmental loads in the Saemangeum coastal area and the environmental load when a 5-Megawatt wind turbine is on board were assessed. The study concluded that at least four thrusters should be used for DP to safely manage the installation process of wind turbines.