Dutch fabricator Sif has assisted DEME Group with bolting tests as part of the foundation work on the 487MW Seamade offshore wind farm which will be located off the coast of Belgium.
During the test the bolted flange connection between a monopile and a transition piece was checked by fitting and torqueing all 128 bolts, Sif said.
Previously, the test were executed by third parties, but Sif has now added them to its scope as an additional service to clients.
Sif prepared the engineering and arranged monopile and transition piece sections to be manufactured with all required lifting points.
These sections were tilted straight up in Roermond and then transported to the Sif Maasvlakte 2 area.
Self-propelled modular transporters moved the sections from the inner harbour to the quayside, the company said.
A 1300-tonne crawler crane lifted the monopile followed by the TP section on top, it added.
Testing was carried out for four days, after which the structure was disassembled and returned to Roermond, and returned into the normal production process, Sif said.