KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 21): Sapura Energy Bhd has awarded Osbit a contract to deliver a pile gripper system for the Yunlin offshore wind project in Taiwan, according to Offshore WIND.

The news portal said Osbit will design and build the system which will be installed on Sapura Energy's heavy lift vessel and support the installation of the 80 monopile foundations at the project.

"According to Osbit, the system, designed to facilitate monopile installation from a moored floating vessel, will maintain the position and verticality of the foundations and will be deployed and stowed using a deck rail skidding system.

"The company stated that the pile gripper technology includes a control cabin design and an integrated Near Pile Noise Mitigation System, which lessens subsea noise associated with piling activities," said the report.

Osbit has started work at its Northumberland headquarters and aims to deliver the job to meet a 30-week lead-time.

In June, Sapura Energy had secured a contract for the transport and installation of turbine foundations at the Yunlin project, which marks its maiden venture in the offshore wind sector.

"The 640MW Yunlin offshore wind farm will feature 80 Siemens Gamesa 8MW turbines installed some 8km offshore and scheduled to come online in 2021," said the portal.

At 10:41am, shares of Sapura Energy dropped 0.5 sen or 1.69% to 29 sen with some 9.89 million shares traded.