TOA Corporation and Obayashi ordered a Huisman Monopile Gripper, which will be the first of its kind in Japan.

The gripper’s purpose is to upend and install monopiles without using a separate upending bucket, improving safety and efficiency. It will be installed on TOA and Obayashi’s Self Elevating Platform, which also has a 1,250 metric tonne Huisman Pedestal Mounted Crane. The gripper will be capable of handling monopiles of up to 8 metres in diameter for offshore wind projects.

Timon Ligterink, Commercial Director Asia-Pacific at Huisman, said: “We are extremely honoured to be awarded our very first monopile gripper contract in Japan. This order is the result of our partnership with TOA Corporation and Obayashi, which we have developed over multiple years. Together with the Huisman-built crane, the gripper will allow the safe upending and installation of monopiles in Japanese waters, accelerating the energy transition in the country. We thank TOA Corporation and Obayashi for their continued trust in Huisman and look forward to successfully developing this gripper together.”