Newsfrom Japan

Tokyo, July 24 (Jiji Press)--Shimizu Corp. <1803> announced on Wednesday a project to build the world's largest vessel for use in offshore wind farm construction.

The major Japanese general contractor will invest 50 billion yen in the project, aiming to complete the ship in October 2022.

Through the project, Shimizu hopes to capture construction demand for large-scale offshore wind power plants, which is expected to grow in the future.

The vessel, a self-propelled, self-elevating platform, will allow people to engage in operations without being affected by waves, as its body can be lifted above the sea surface by legs that are attached to the vessel.

Weighing 28,000 gross tons, the vessel will be 142 meters long and 50 meters wide, and capable of holding seven 8-megawatt wind turbines. The company will be able to install such wind turbines within 10 days.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]