The increasing size of offshore wind monopiles presents significant challenges for conventional crane-based installation methods, which rely on scarce and costly Heavy Lift Vessels (HLVs). This study proposes a craneless installation method based on buoyancy-assisted upending using a friction-based gripper system.

The monopile is transported in a buoyant horizontal configuration and engaged by a gripper mounted on a Jack-Up Vessel. Controlled internal ballasting of the monopile and vertical actuation induce rotation about a passive pivot, while a distributed friction interface transfers the required loads. A combination of global dynamic analysis and local interface design is used to quantify the governing loads and define the system requirements.

The results show that buoyancy assistance significantly reduces the effective load on the gripper, enabling load transfer through a distributed clamping system. A functional mechanical concept, the Radial Hydraulic Gripper, is developed to demonstrate how the required forces and motions can be realized, including dynamic dampers and fail-safe mechanisms.

The study demonstrates that a physically feasible alternative to conventional crane-based installation can be achieved. By eliminating the need for HLVs, the proposed concept enables the use of Jack-Up Vessels and offers strong potential for improving operational flexibility and reducing installation costs in offshore wind projects. ... Read more