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fueling our clients ’ success by developing clever ideas and leveraging the innovative spirit we are known for , to make their operations smarter , safer , faster , and more efficient . To accomplish this , we possess essential in-house engineering disciplines , encompassing mechanical design and engineering , structural , geotechnical , drive and control , and marine engineering , alongside project and fabrication management . Additionally , we operate a testing facility where we evaluate aspects that are poorly , if at all , described by design codes . Furthermore , our team of software engineers develops applications that streamline our customers ’ projects ,” he says .
Productive partnerships
While Niels highlights that these services can be provided on marine transport , heavy lift and large civil construction projects , TWD has an especially strong track record in the offshore wind sector . “ When the company was founded , the offshore wind sector was a new and booming market . Over the last 15 years , we have grown alongside this market , which is still developing rapidly to this day . In terms of our history within the sector , we have contributed to the construction of most offshore wind farms to date and possess an extensive track record in developing installation methods for both foundations and wind turbines . Similarly , we have designed dozens of unique installation tools and mission equipment tailored for the construction of these wind farms .
“ Striving to be a frontrunner in the industry , we make substantial investments in innovation . For instance , in collaboration with a customer , we developed a method for installing large monopiles with high precision from a floating vessel , even in poor weather . Our role extended from the initial idea to concept , basic design , and fine-tuning the equipment offshore . Another example of our focus on innovation is our solution for supplying wind turbine components to an offshore installation vessel , presenting multiple logistical benefits . Notably , in partnership with Barge Master , we designed a platform capable of keeping a 70-meter high and 700-ton heavy wind turbine tower in a perfectly vertical position , regardless of the ship ’ s motions . This platform is currently being used to build the Vineyard offshore wind farm in the US ,” he enlightens .
To illustrate TWD ’ s capabilities in practice , Niels discusses projects involving the construction of a jetty with a cantilever bridge . “ Cantilever bridges serve to construct a jetty by expanding it at the front whilst resting on the section of it that was just built . Thus , when the piles and the concrete slabs are installed , the cantilever bridge moves forward . This process is then repeated until the jetty is completed . One significant advantage of this method is that it eliminates the need for temporary support structures , saving contractors both time and money . Moreover , by continuously repeating the same steps , the construction process becomes increasingly faster .
“ Together with our client , BAM , and its subsidiary , DMC , we designed a cantilever bridge for the construction of a jetty in Papua New Guinea . This jetty is used by ships carrying Liquefied Natural Gas ( LNG ) tankers to offload the LNG onto a factory on shore . Later , we were tasked with designing an additional cantilever bridge for the Wheatstone project . The original bridge was upgraded twice to accommodate the construction of new jetties in Australia and Canada ,” he ends .
Through its enduring dedication to practical engineering , TWD is set to form many more partnerships to boost construction efficiency in a wide range of projects across the globe . ■
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