On February 26, 2026, a next-generation Wind Turbine Installation Vessel (WTIV) was delivered in Singapore.
With a total cost of 475 million US dollars, this custom-engineered WTIV is the world’s first of its kind, tailor-made for installing large-scale offshore wind turbines globally.
Boasting a total length of 145 meters, a width of 83.2 meters, and a molded depth of 11 meters, the vessel features a spacious and regular deck operation area. It is equipped with a core 1,900-ton main crane with a lifting height of 180 meters, supporting the installation of 15+MW offshore wind turbines. This accurately aligns with the core development trend of the global offshore wind industry towards large-megawatt, deep-sea and far-shore iterations.
Adopting a feeder-based installation design and equipped with an exclusive stabilisation system, this super engineering vessel can firmly fix feeder vessels to transfer wind turbine components even under severe sea conditions. It significantly enhances the safety and efficiency of offshore construction while breaking the scenario limitations of complex sea conditions on wind power installation.
Customised by Maersk Offshore Wind and constructed by Seatrium, the WTIV is scheduled to sail for the United States in March 2026 to participate in the construction of the Empire Wind 1 project offshore New York. Developed by Norwegian energy giant Equinor, the project is located 15-30 miles southeast of Long Island, New York, with a total installed capacity of 810 MW and plans to install 54 Vestas V236-15MW wind turbines.
Driven by the dual trends of large-megawatt turbines and deep-sea development, the wind power sector is experiencing a period of technological explosion, with a surge of innovative solutions emerging continuously.
Amid this industrial wave, various cutting-edge solutions are being deployed globally in the wind power industry.
HKW, a leading European wind power bearing technology brand originating from Germany with over a century of heritage, has launched a compact drive train solution featuring three-row cylindrical roller main bearings. This solution not only addresses load challenges through the high load-bearing capacity of the three-row cylindrical roller main bearings but also reduces the drive train weight by more than 50%. Its compact structure adapts to the space constraints of the nacelle, perfectly meeting the development needs of wind turbines towards larger size and lighter weight.
In the future, HKW will leverage its advantages in three-row cylindrical roller main bearing technology to provide supporting services for more wind power projects and contribute to the development of the wind energy industry.
