GustoMSC and NOV Lifting & Handling have developed the Sjøhest – Norwegian for “seahorse” – for the installation of offshore wind turbine blades.The Sjøhest Wind Blade Installation (WBI) solution consists of a dedicated new build NG-5500XL, or a smaller converted jack-up vessel, equipped with a smaller handling crane that picks up the blades from the rack and feeds the trolley. As a telescopic leader boom connects Sjøhest with the already installed tower, the leader boom connection aligns with the tower’s movements. This creates an aligned movement between the blade and the tower. Once connected to the trolley, the blade is horizontally transported up along the leader, rotated into a vertical position, and connected to the rotor.