Van Oord has successfully installed a submerged slip joint at the Borssele Wind Farm V site in the Netherlands.
It is the first time a submerged slip joint has been used on a full-sized offshore wind turbine on a commercial basis globally, said Van Oord.
Following years of developing the system in cooperation with technology partners, the Dutch marine firm deployed its offshore installation vessel Aeolus to install the slip joint foundation this week.
The design and production of the slip joint was certified by DNVGL in the autumn of 2019, with MottMcDonald assessing it on bankability aspects.
Van Oord has been awarded the Balance of Plant scope for the Borssele Site V project, which consists of two 9.5 MW wind turbines.
Site V is located some 20 kilometres off the Dutch coast and is designated as an innovation site within the Borssele Wind Farm Zone.