German outfit Bauer Spezialtiefbau has been contracted by Van Oord to carry out piling work at the 496MW Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm off the coast of France.
Bauer Spezialtiefbau will install 190 bored piles at 62 locations for the turbines’ three-legged jackets, as well as at the substation location for a four-legged jacket foundation.
The company said it will provide and operate the drilling and grouting operations for the subsea operation, including the use of three newly designed Bauer DD 40 U dive drills (pictured).
The drills will work simultaneously up to a 47-metre penetration depth in water depths of up to 37 metres, it said.
Van Oord will start the offshore operations in 2021 with the installation of the bored piles using its installation vessel Aeolus.
Aeolus will be assisted by a second vessel in 2022 to install jackets foundations.
Ailes Marines, which is owned by Iberdrola, is building the wind farm.
Saint-Brieuc will feature 62 Siemens Gamesa 8MW turbines.