On Saturday 5th August, 2023 the Chinese built MPP UNISTREAM loaded with wind turbines, the giants of renewable energy was photographed from the air by MALTA SHIP PHOTOS (MSPAP) underway to her next port after she uplifted bunkers.
UNISTREAM was built in China by Heshun Shipyard at Qingdao in 2010 as the DUTCH KATJA trading until December, 2010 ; BELUGA NOTIFICATION until August 2011; ROCCO until October 2011 and THORCO ATLANTIC until December 2017 .
Unfortunately when she was named as THORCO ATLANTIC a 30 year old Filipino sailor died in an accident after he fell into one of the ship’s cargo hold while the ship was berthed at Texas Terminal No. 37 on the Houston Ship Channel on June 28, 2012.
Sometimes it is hard to imagine how the blades of a wind turbine, laden with such size and weight, are able to be moved by a wind with normal characteristics. The reason is due to its shape, the so-called aerodynamic profile: When the wind blows perpendicular to them, a lift force is generated that causes the movement.
A wind turbine tower is the structural component onto which the rotor and the nacelle are fixed. Moreover, it supports the entire force of the wind. The key is in its design and composition, as it must be able to bear the weight of up to 15 adult elephants.
And though it was August, it wasn’t an easy operation to do when we had crosswinds and wind gusts in the area.
More images can be found here – https://maltashipphotos.com/photo/unistream-05-08-2023/
