Deepwater Wind hired a number of specialized contractors during development and construction of the 30MW Block Island wind farm in Rhode Island.
Norwood, Massachusetts-based engineering consultancy GZA’s involvement goes back to 2008, when it was contracted to provide geotechnical services.
Seabed explorations were carried out from a 245-class lift boat out of the Gulf of Mexico in 23m to 30m of water.
GZA’s report included recommended soil parameter values for each turbine location, pile capacity, pile axial and lateral deformation curves, and pile drivability and constructability issues.
GZA also helped GE and Deepwater during construction with design of facilities at the Port of Providence, including the structures used for staging and assembly of the wind turbine components.
Rhode Island outfit Inspire Environmental conducted baseline studies and helped with permitting and the marine work plan.
Scientists designed and carried out technical studies including benthic resources surveys, cable routing, eelgrass surveys, finfish trawl surveys, lobster surveys, a geophysical desktop study, hard-bottom impact surveys, fisheries data collection, recreational boating surveys and NEPA documentation.
Inspire will also assess post-construction impacts.
Phoenix International Holdings and Ocean Tech Services provided remotely operated vehicle services to support installation of the subsea power cables.
Working from April to July of 2016, Phoenix completed a range of underwater monitoring tasks, such as the cable touchdown on the seafloor prior to burial, cable pull-in at each turbine foundation, the installation of concrete protection mats at cable crossings and the installation of cable protection ducting.
Image: GZA
