Anchoring systems specialist Maxwell Marine has been contracted to design and supply a technical anchoring system for the uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) which will be used for offshore met-ocean measurement campaigns in the wind farm industry.

Ten of the vessels will be built by the Tuco Marine Group in Denmark for offshore wind farm developer, Ørsted. 

Maxwell says it has been working with Ørsted for sometime to provide a design suitable for the USVs which will be in constant use throughout the year in all conditions. The prototype has now successfully completed trials in Norwegian and Danish waters, with occasional hurricane force winds testing the anchor system to the limit.

Meeting the strict requirements of the highly technical USVs, the system needed to have fully autonomous operation (windlass and roller stopper) and the ability to retrieve very long lengths of chain. With the USVs spending at least half a year at sea (with no human intervention) low maintenance was also essential.

“We were keen to be involved in the development stage of the prototype of the Ørsted USV, as it was clear the vessels will help lower emissions and the uncertainties in the expected annual energy production for new offshore wind farms,” says Thierry Vermeer, sales manager of Maxwell Marine.

“Maxwell has always shown great initiatives in the field of sustainability and the project was a strong example of how the company’s team of exceptional engineers could provide the best solution for every anchoring challenge presented to us. The project also displayed how good cooperation between a number of partners can produce a result such as the Ørsted USV which will provide a substantial contribution to our sustainable future”. The first finalised build will be launched at the end of this year.

Maxwell Marine is backed by Yanmar and its companies, including Vetus, Smartgyro and Flexofold.

Main image: Hugin USV on anchor in front of Anholt wind farm.

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