UK company Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) has delivered a purpose-built pre-lay plough to Boskalis for work on Orsted’s 1400MW Hornsea 2 offshore wind farm off the east coast of England.
The plough is multi-functional and will be used by Boskalis to install 380km of export cables, which will connect Hornsea 2’s offshore substation to the site’s onshore equivalent in Killingholme, Lincolnshire.
It has been named Megalodon by Boskalis and was manufactured on the north bank of the River Tyne by SMD.
Megalodon’s features include active steering, multi modes, specialised share design and remote-control access, Orsted said.
The plough can operate in water depths of up to 500 metres and will be used in collaboration with Boskalis’ offshore support vessel Boka Falcon.
Offshore work at Hornsea 2 is due to start this month.
Boskalis is working alongside Orsted to complete cable-laying campaigns for 2020 within six months.
SMD managing director Paul Davison said: “This is our third pre-lay plough delivered to date.
“Together with the Boskalis innovation team we have developed innovations for this plough which reduce seabed impact and reduce vessel fuel consumption whilst burying to protect the crucial offshore wind infrastructure that is the export cable.
“I’d like to thank Orsted and Boskalis for their support and collaborative approach, and we look forward to supporting the plough in service.”
Boskalis project director for Hornsea 2 Steve Marshall said: “Boskalis wants to stimulate the local supply chain, not only by purchasing locally but also innovating and collaborating towards achieving the best possible end result.”
Orsted senior programme director for Hornsea 2 Patrick Harnett said: “We are committed to working with local suppliers where possible and are extremely pleased that Boskalis has chosen SMD as their manufacturers for this specialist piece of equipment.”
Hornsea 2 will feature 165 Siemens Gamesa 8MW turbines and is expected to be completed in 2022.