Subsea cable laying and trenching works have started at the 950MW Moray East offshore wind project off the coast of Scotland.
The wind project, being developed by a consortium led by EDPR, features three offshore substation platforms to collect electricity generated by the wind farm’s 100 turbines and export the power to shore via three subsea cables.
NKT’s Victoria vessel will lay the three export cables between the Moray East offshore wind farm site and the cable landfall, via three separate drilled HDD ducts near Boyndie Bay.
Vessel Havila Phoenix will undertake operations to bury the three subsea power cables below the seabed, via means of remotely operated trenching vehicles.
Cable laying is expected to be completed by 3 October 2020.
Trenching is expected to continue until early November and will be followed by a separate campaign to install remedial protection over the cables on any remaining unburied and unprotected sections.
Boulder picking operations on the export cable route and within the wind farm site, using the Olympic Triton vessel, commenced on 24 July 2020.
A diving campaign near Boyndie Bay is underway, as part of the three export power cable installations.
Activity includes preparation works on the HDD duct exit, cable installation support works, and post-cable installation grouting and finishing works for the project.
Divers are connected to diving support vessel MV C-Fenna operated by Leask Marine.
The diving campaign is expected to reach completion on around 18 October 2020.