A designer's sketch of the offshore wind power installation platform. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Huisman China, a worldwide specialist in lifting, drilling, and subsea solutions in Zhangzhou, Fujian province, will design and build a leg encircling crane, the core equipment for the offshore wind power installation platform.

The leg encircling crane has a lifting capacity of 2,200 tons and is capable of installing a 20-megawatt wind turbine. It is expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2022.

"The leg encircling crane designed and manufactured by Huisman China is light weight, but has strong reliability," said David Roodenburg, chief executive officer of Huisman. "It has always been favored by the offshore wind power industry."

The construction of the leg encircling crane is of great significance to Huisman's Zhangzhou production base, Roodenburg added.

In 2007, Huisman China settled in Zhangzhou. It has since manufactured many advanced cranes, pipelay systems, and drilling equipment for the Chinese oil market.

Huisman China has continuously explored new areas, as well as expanded research and development for equipment that can be used for offshore wind power in recent years, launching various cranes, pile holders, other equipment suitable for offshore wind power installation.

Aiming to reach peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, offshore wind power is one of China's most important clean energy sources.

The offshore wind power installation platform project was jointly launched by a number of offshore engineering companies in April, which will launch a number of high-end offshore wind power installation vessels suitable for various complex sea conditions around the world.