Dutch offshore transfer equipment manufacturer Safeway has signed a contract with Van Oord to supply the latest version of its Seagull type motion-compensated gangway system for the subsea construction vessel Topaz Tangaroa (pictured).
The vessel is being used to support the building of the Greater Changhua 1 & 2a offshore wind farms in Taiwan.
This contract marks Safeway’s second contract in Taiwanese waters, and it is the first time in Safeway’s history that it has rented out a gangway to Van Oord, for an offshore wind project.
The Safeway Seagull gangway system, with 3D crane function, will be installed on the Topaz Tangaroa in Rotterdam and will be deployed to transfer personnel and cargo (up to 1000 kg) during Van Oord’s first cable project in Asia, later this year.
In September 2019 Van Oord has secured a contract from Danish offshore wind developer Orsted for the cable installation work on the Greater Changhua 1 & 2a offshore wind farms.
The Dutch marine contractor is responsible for the transportation, installation and burial of the export and inter array cables.
Van Oord will be deploying its dedicated cable-laying vessel Nexus.
The Topaz Tangaroa has been contracted to support the Nexus.
It is planned that the array cable installation work will start in August 2021 and again in March 2022.
The rental contract for the 28 metre-long walk-to-work Safeway Seagull gangway will be utilised over the two campaigns.
Safeway chief executive Wijnand van Aalst said: “We’re hugely excited to have two Safeway Seagull gangways operating off the coast of Taiwan, in 2021.
“And we are extremely grateful having the opportunity to demonstrate our expertise outside Europe, while offering maximum operational efficiency.
“The use of motion-compensated gangway systems is gradually becoming the norm in Asia, and both contracts represent a great and safe way to start 2021, in this promising and challenging market.”