Van Oord has entered into a contract with Dutch vessel operator Jack Up Barge for accommodation and supply of balance of plant operations on the 269MW Deutsche Bucht offshore wind farm.
Jack Up Barge will deploy its jack-up platform JB-115, which recently completed a similar assignment at the Danish Kriegers Flak wind farm.
Van Oord is carrying out balance of plant activities at Deutsche Bucht for Northland Power.
The project is located in the German Bight, more than 100km from the mainland.
Van Oord is handling the design, engineering, procurement, construction and installation of the foundations, the connecting cables and the high-voltage offshore station.
The contractor is also responsible for transporting the turbines.
Jack Up Barge’s Leander van den Berge recently oversaw the JB-115’s return from a similar project for two offshore platforms of the Kriegers Flak wind farm in the Danish part of the Baltic Sea.
He said: “After Kriegers Flak we made special adjustments to the vessel to get it fully certified and ready to go out on this project.
“For this Deutsche Bucht project we are again providing offshore accommodation for a total crew of around 100 people, including internet and catering.
“Furthermore, we will be delivering crane assistance with full coverage of the topside platform, thanks to the JB-115’s 300-tonne crane.”
According to Van den Berge, the tender was awarded because of the existing relationship and pricing. The Dutch vessel operator has worked with Van Oord on four separate occasions over the past decade on various projects.
“We have previously worked very well with Van Oord. We can now expand that relationship because we are flexible, shift gear quickly and offer competitive prices,” he added.
The project will comprise 33 MHI Vestas 8.4MW turbines and is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year.