If the windfarm does go ahead, the mast will remain in place to monitor wind data for an additional 20 years.

Seastructures' scope of works called for piling, installation of the platform and erection of the meteorological mast. The company was able to complete the project in 42 hours of continuous work.

Seastructures hired the spud leg pontoon barge Lynn from Belgian operator Depret. The Lynn was towed to the Kentish Flats site from Zeebrugge at a speed of 6 knots. Lynn can generate 160 tonnes of downforce into each if its four legs. When the legs are loaded the barge does not raise out of the water but raises itself approximately 500mm above its normal floating draft. This makes the barge extremely stable and enables operations such as Kentish Flats to be performed accurately without lateral movement by the barge. The barge does however have to follow the tide up and down. This operation can be performed manually or by the barge's computer sensing the load in each leg. The platform is stable for up to a half hour at a time before adjusting to the next position on the tide.

The 55m by 30m Lynn weighs in at approximately 2,000 tonnes.

Each 56 tonne leg is 1.6m in diameter and 30m long.

MJ Information No: 17705