DEME’s offshore installation vessel Orion has completed monopile installation works at Ocean Winds’ 882MW Moray West offshore wind farm project in Scotland.
Despite harsh winter conditions, DEME installed 29 monopiles in approximately two months.
Meanwhile, DEME’s DP2 jack-up vessel Apollo is installing the transition pieces.
The Moray West offshore wind farm, developed by Ocean Winds in Scotland’s Moray Firth, will use 15MW turbines.
Dedicated novel tools were deployed such as a Quad Vibro Hammer and pioneering bolting equipment for M90 bolts.
Orion transported the 29 monopiles, which weigh up to 2000 tonnes each, from the port of Invergordon and installed them in full DP mode, without the use of anchors.
Orion’s specially designed and high-tech motion compensated pile gripper, in combination with its 5000-tonne crane and vessel ballasting techniques, enabled efficient operations during Scottish winter weather conditions.
The Vibro Hammer was used to overcome the risks of pile-runs, due to the combination of soft and hard soil layers.
Afterwards the piles were hammered to the target depth with a hydraulic Impact Hammer.
Transition piece installation is expected to be finalised in the coming months.
DEME’s success at Moray West wouldn’t have been possible without its international team of specialist engineers and crew, including the American crew members who became an integral part of the team.
This highly skilled group gained valuable additional experience, which will be instrumental for upcoming offshore wind projects in US waters, stated DEME.
Ocean Winds Project Director Pete Geddes said: “I am absolutely delighted with DEME Offshore’s performance whilst working on the Moray West project.
“They have executed the monopile installation campaign efficiently, professionally, and safely.
“DEME has been solution-focussed, flexible and proactive during the offshore construction campaign, and continue to be so during the ongoing TP installation campaign – well done DEME!”
Orion has started its voyage across the Atlantic Ocean back to the United States, heading to its next project in Virginia.
Jan Klaassen, Business Unit Director Americas at DEME Offshore, added: “I am looking forward to welcoming Orion back in the US, this time in the great Commonwealth of Virginia.”
The vessel is scheduled to arrive in the Port of Norfolk, Virginia in late April where she will prepare for the installation of 176 foundations on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project for our client Dominion Energy.
“The combined technology of the Vibro Hammer and Impact Hammer will also be used on the CVOW project, in combination with state-of-the-art noise mitigation technologies to protect marine mammals,” Klaassen added.