A TYNEDALE offshore equipment supplier has secured a contract to design and build a system which will be used in offshore wind turbine installation in Japan.

Riding-Mill-based Osbit will design and build a monopile upending bucket, to be used by vessel operator Seajacks in its offshore wind turbine installation projects.

The system will initially support the development of the large-scale, bottom-fixed Akita and Noshiro Offshore Wind Farms in Akita Prefecture, part of Japan’s renewable energy expansion being developed by Akita Offshore Wind Corporation .

The monopile upending tool will be installed on Seajacks Zaratan vessel and will be mounted on self-propelled modular transporters to extend the capacity of the vessel’s existing 800 tonne crane.

Key components for the Osbit design will be manufactured in the UK, with final assembly taking place in Singapore. The project is underway and it planned to be delivered next year.

Osbit Engineer Phil Pennington, who led the firm’s technical bid, said: “Osbit’s track record in delivering efficient and reliable equipment tailored to our clients’ requirements makes us a good fit for them.

“We’ve used our significant experience in monopile installation and offshore handling to suit the specific requirements of this project. We are now working closely with Seajacks to deliver the project on spec, to budget and in time.”