DEME Offshore has started piling work at the site of the 950MW Moray East offshore wind farm off the coast of Scotland, according to a notice of operations for the project.
The work started on 19 May and adds to ongoing boulder relocation and guard vessels duties, the notice said.
GeoSea NV Geotechnical & Offshore Solutions, part of DEME Offshore, is carrying out the piling, which is scheduled to last 11 months.
Ships deployed for the job are heavy lift vessel MV Apollo (pictured) supported by MV Normand Service.
Scottish outfit BiFab, which is owned by Canadians DF Barnes, has a deal to fabricate 150 pin piles, with the rest of the piles to be provided by German fabricator EEW.
DEME Offshore is the engineering, procurement, construction and installation contractor for the project’s 100 jacket turbine foundations, as well as three offshore substation platforms.
A large portion of the fabrication works – including all final assembly – of 55 jacket foundations will be done by Smulders yard in Wallsend, Newcastle, with support from fabrication activities in Europe.
The remaining jackets will be supplied by Dubai-based Rig Metals, which is part of the Lamprell Group, and then shipped and offloaded to northern Scottish ports.
Moray East, which is being developed by EDPR, Engie and Diamond Green, will feature 100 MHI Vestas 9.5MW turbines.