Huisman Develops Revolutionary Gripper for Offshore Wind Turbine Installation
Sviadnov, March 26, 2025 – Huisman Czech Republic has played a key role in the production of the advanced Motion Compensated Pile Gripper (MCPG) system, developed by Huisman in Schiedam, the Netherlands, for Heerema Marine Contractors. This state-of-the-art technology, installed on the SSCV Thialf vessel, significantly accelerates and improves the accuracy of installing 115-meter-long offshore wind turbine piles.
The sophisticated system was manufactured across Huisman’s facilities in the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and China. The Motion Compensated Pile Gripper enables stable and precise handling of piles with a diameter of up to 12.5 meters, a length of up to 115 meters, and a weight of up to 3,200 tons. Unlike traditional methods, Huisman’s gripper is suspended from the side of the vessel, allowing it to reach the water surface and safely guide the pile structure to the desired depth of up to 40 meters.
Through a combination of advanced engineering and innovative manufacturing processes, Huisman Czech Republic contributed to the realization of a technology that will significantly speed up and improve the accuracy of offshore wind turbine installation. Key components were manufactured in Sviadnov, including the ring base, support frame, and parts of the hydraulic system. “In the Czech Republic, we produced important structural and mechanical components that ensure the system’s accuracy and stability during the installation of individual piles. The largest welded structure produced in Sviadnov weighed 86 tons and was part of the support frame assembly,” said Vladimír Pastor, Project Manager at Huisman Czech Republic.
The revolutionary gripper is equipped with a motion compensation system in the X and Y axes, significantly increasing installation precision. The hydraulic cylinder system offers numerous advantages, such as faster response times, improved positioning, and the ability for unlimited maximum stroke with minimal axial deflection. “The system is also environmentally friendly. It uses low-friction bearings to reduce energy consumption, and the hydraulic system operates with biodegradable oil,” added Tomáš Zamarski, Lead Project Manager, Huisman Czech Republic.
