Turbine foundation installation activity has begun on Dogger Bank B, an offshore wind project off the UK.
Seaway7’s vessels Seaway Strashnov and Seaway Alfa Lift have commenced installation of monopile foundations and transition pieces for Dogger Bank’s second phase.
The team recently completed installation of all 95 transition pieces on Dogger Bank A, concluding the installation of the foundations for the first phase of the project.
The monopiles and TPs will host GE Vernova’s 13MW Haliade-X turbines.
The structures were manufactured by Sif and Smulders and are being installed 80 miles off the Yorkshire coast by tier one contractor Seaway7.
Dogger Bank wind farm project director Olly Cass said: “These installation milestones are the result of years of commitment and diligence from the project team and its delivery partners.
“As the world’s largest wind farm of its kind and due to the deployment of new turbine technology, every aspect of the wind farm has required us to come up with new innovative design and engineering solutions that will shape the future construction of offshore wind globally.
“We extend our thanks and congratulations to the many companies and individuals who’ve risen to this challenge and contributed to the milestone we’re celebrating today.”
Seaway7 project director Wouter van Dalen said: “We are happy to welcome Seaway Strashnov back to the project to commence foundation installation on Dogger Bank B – leading on from the vessel’s good performance last year on Dogger Bank A.
“After introducing our brand-new heavy lift vessel Seaway Alfa Lift to the project in October, the vessel operated through the high weather season installing transition pieces on Dogger Bank A, and now continues this work in phase B.
“The foundation installation scope is making excellent progress, enabled by our strong collaboration with our client Dogger Bank Wind Farm and our subcontractors.”
A total of 277 monopiles and transition pieces will be installed across all three phases of the project, with completion due in 2026.
Steel manufactured by Tata Steel in Wales and processed in Corby and Hartlepool is being used in the supporting components of the transition pieces, while South Tyneside-based Metec and Rochdale-based Granada Material Handling have also won contracts with Smulders to support this innovative and world-leading project.
Designed in the UK by experts from Wood Thilsted, Dogger Bank Wind Farm’s foundations have been optimised to tackle challenging wave loads in the Dogger Bank area of the North Sea, with installation in water depths of up to 32 metres and at a minimum distance of 130km from shore.