Siemens Gamesa has contracted an Island Offshore walk-to-work vessel on behalf of ScottishPower Renewables for work on the 714MW East Anglia 1 offshore wind farm off the east coast of England.
The Island Crown service offshore vessel is 96.8 metres long and 20 metres wide with accommodation for a total crew of 100 people.
It will enable some 40 personnel involved in commissioning the wind farm to live offshore for up to two weeks at time, ScottishPower Renewables said.
The vessel is equipped with a gangway system, subsea crane, helicopter platform, large tank capacity and a cargo deck area of 561 metres squared.
ScottishPower Renewables said the vessel was mobilised to Great Yarmouth on 11 June.
The contract is for 275 days with an option for a further 90, providing work for the vessel until the summer of 2020.
It will supplement the daily crew transfers that already take place and increase efficiency on the major infrastructure project, the company said.
ScottishPower Renewables project director for East Anglia 1 Charlie Jordan said: “Given the scale of works involved, this vessel will provide comfortable living conditions, safe access to the 102 wind turbine Generators and more efficient working as we look to bring East Anglia ONE online as quickly and safely as possible.”
Construction is already under way at the £2.5bn project, which will comprise 102 Siemens Gamesa 7MW turbines.