TenneT has signed multi-year framework agreements with Allseas and Heerema Marine Contractors for the transport and installation of at least fourteen 2GW offshore platforms.
The fourteen 2GW converter stations will be installed in the Dutch and German parts of the North Sea.
The framework agreement covers at least twenty-eight slots until 2031; fourteen slots for transport and installation of a jacket and fourteen slots for transport and installation of a topside.
Heerema will deploy the Semi-Submersible Crane Vessel (SSCV) Sleipnir as well as an owned floatover barge, Allseas will use its single-lift installation vessel Pioneering Spirit (pictured) for the installation of the jackets and topsides.
Both vessels have been used several times in recent years to install jackets and topsides for TenneT in the Dutch and German North Sea.
Heerema has been awarded about 60% of the available slots, while Allseas has been awarded approximately 40% of the slots, TenneT said.
Slots for future projects after 2031 can also be added to the awarded contracts.
The awarded slots are not linked to specific 2GW projects.
The HVDC suppliers building the jackets and topsides for TenneT (Hitachi Energy/Petrofac, GE/Sembcorp, GE/McDermott and Siemens/Dragados) can choose from the suppliers whereby Heerema and Allseas can install both jackets and topsides.
Boskalis will act as a subcontractor to Allseas, building one or two new transport vessels specifically for the 2GW Program that will meet the most stringent future legislation standards on sustainability and emissions.
Tim Meyerjürgens, chief operating officer at TenneT said: “With this agreement we secure global marine transport and the heaviest offshore installation capacity in the market for our HVDC partners while expanding transport capacity in the market.
“We are proud to have signed this framework agreements with these Dutch and Swiss-Dutch suppliers.
“These European partners once again prove that they are global market leaders in offshore transport and installation.
“They have the equipment to carry out projects of such magnitude safely and successfully.”
Recently, TenneT awarded framework agreements for the civil works for the land stations in the Netherlands, offshore and onshore converter stations and the cable connections of the fourteen 2GW projects in the Netherlands and Germany.