Sembmarine SLP has upended a 954 tonne substation jacket for the 402MW Dudgeon offshore wind farm off the Norfolk coast.
The Lowestoft engineering outfit is working with Siemens Transmission and Distribution Ltd (STDL) on the contract, while SPT Offshore fabricated the suction pile substation foundation.
Sembmarine said today that it completed the upending by using a mega jack 800 jacking system operated by heavy lift specialists Ale.
The jacket’s suction buckets were positioned under the each leg once the structure was lifted to 14 metres.
Ale then lowered the jacket into place for welders to complete the fabrication.
Sembmarine project manager Matthew Wooltorton said: “It has been a particularly complex operation to integrate the suction bucket technology into the jacket whilst also considering the construction constraints of the project.
“The roll-up event was a culmination of high level engineering and design works carried out by SLP and Ale and close collaborative working with STDL to get the jacket ready for planned sail away in May.”
STDL project manager John Davidson added: “I would like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts displayed by the team in reaching this important milestone in the project.
“Whilst under enormous pressure they worked tirelessly around the clock without compromising on safety or quality. This was a good day for the project and the team should be proud of their achievement.”
The £1.5bn Dudgeon project is being developed by Statoil, Statkraft and Masdar, and will feature 67 Siemens 6MW turbines.
Image: upending the jacket (SLP)
