GE Renewable Energy and Acta Marine have signed a supply contract for the chartering of a service operation vessel (SOV) for the 480MW Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm off France.
The vessel, Acta Auriga, will start operating on behalf of GE Renewable Energy in the second quarter of 2022, when the offshore wind turbine installation is set to begin.
The project comprises 80 Haliade 150-6MW turbines.
Departing from the Port of Saint-Nazaire, the vessel will assist in the mechanical completion and commissioning of the offshore wind turbines located approximatively 12 km off the coast.
Acta Auriga will also provide safe accommodation and transportation for the project personnel and will have the capacity to transport goods that are needed offshore.
John Higgins, project management leader at GE Renewable Energy Offshore Wind, said: “We are very happy to collaborate for the first time with Acta Marine and to be able to charter the ACTA AURIGA SOV during the mechanical completion and commissioning phases.
“I trust that the quality of the vessel’s design and the skills of their teams will support our project teams in executing the offshore works on time and with quality.
“As a key player in the offshore wind industry, we continue to develop a network of highly skilled suppliers that will be able to help us provide the best service to our customers.”
Acta Marine general manager of commerce Simon Anink said: “We are very pleased that the experienced team of GE Renewable Energy has chosen our walk to work vessel Acta Auriga for the offshore works on Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm and we are proud to be part of the first large scale offshore wind development in France.
“We are convinced the Acta Auriga will be a good fit for the project and will provide a comfortable stay for the technicians offshore and an efficient execution of the offshore scope for GE’s project team.”
The Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm is owned by a consortium comprising EDF Renouvelables and Enbridge.