Motus to Provide Main Crane Platform for Empire Wind 1

Norwegian crane specialist Motus Technology has landed a major contract with Seatrium to provide engineering, design, and construction services for the platform main crane of the Empire Wind 1 Offshore Substation (OSS).

The main platform crane, developed by Motus, will be delivered to Seatrium’s Singapore yard before being installed approximately 20 miles south of Long Island as part of the Empire 1 offshore wind farm. This self-contained electric-hydraulic offshore crane is designed to lift 5 tonnes at 30 meters and meets the API 2C Eight Edition standards. It will also adhere to U.S. statutory laws and regulations for inspection, installation, and operation in offshore U.S. Federal areas.

Given that the crane will be left unattended for extended periods, special measures have been taken to protect its components from harsh offshore conditions and minimize maintenance and start-up time for mobilizing/demobilizing on the platform.

Once completed, the Empire Wind 1 OSS Platform will be operated by Equinor and is expected to generate 810 MW of offshore wind power, supplying electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes in New York. This project aligns with the U.S.’s energy transition goals towards a low-carbon future.

Motus Technology’s CEO, Kjell Hollen, expressed excitement about the contract award, stating that it supports the company’s strategy to provide high-end cranes to the renewable energy industry. The Empire Wind 1 project was chosen as a provisional winner in New York’s fourth offshore wind solicitation in February 2024, and Equinor recently received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to connect the offshore wind project directly to New York City’s transmission system.