A VESSEL FOR TRANSPORTING WIND TURBINES AND METHOD OF ERECTING A WIND TURBINE OFFSHORE

摘要

A vessel (100) having the capability of storing, transporting, and installing between one and ten wind turbines is provided. Such a vessel (100) includes a hull (103) having a hull periphery. The vessel (100) further includes at least two rear jack-up legs (133, 136), and at least one forward jack-up leg (139), movably attached to the hull (103), as well as a jacking mechanism connected to each of the jack-up legs (133, 136, 139) for elevating and lowering each jack-up leg (133, 136, 139) relative to the hull (103) between elevated and lowered positions. The vessel (100) also includes at least two rear azimuthing thrusters (124, 127) affixed to a lower side of the transom; and at least one front azimuthing thruster (130) affixed to a lower side of the bow. The vessel further includes at least four, preferably at least six, wind- turbine-column foundations (225), and at least two wind-turbine-blade brackets (220) individually mounted to the side of the transport vessel.