The placement of the order late in the season presented a very short window for the mobilisation and preparation works for the project. CDM compliant project documentation, safe systems of work and delivery of plant, equipment and personnel were all completed in record time.

Mobilisation was completed in just over one month from signing the contract to starting work onsite, complete with two vessels, a dive spread and a team of 18 personnel.

Successful integration with the other contractors onsite was essential as there was a large number of vessels operating daily. With the farm already operational, a primary concern was the potential for vessels’ anchors to damage subsea infrastructure such as transmission and export cables.

As a measure of commitment to the marine renewables market sector, REDS commissioned the construction of a high specification diving system which was recently the focus of an industry spotlight in the Association of Diving Contractors

monthly newsletter as an example of best working practice.

Designed and built in the UK by Subtech Systems of Barrow in Furness, the system is designed for use across the air diving range (maximum depth of 50m) and exceeds all regulatory requirements.

The works at the BOWF site further benefited from the latest CCTV systems, which have been installed as divers ‘hat cameras’, affording a crystal clear diver’s eye view of the work site for engineers on the surface.

With the high profile of wind energy and renewed interest from the Health and Safety Executive in the renewable energy sector generally, REDS approached the BOWF project with a clear agenda to develop a safe system of diving work using a risk assessment derived methodology that compiled with all relevant legalisation. The result onsite was a diving system that was fully compliant with both the ‘Inshore diving ACOP’ and ‘Offshore Diving ACOP’ (under the Diving at Work Regulations 1997).

As a member of the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA),REDS hope to use the knowledge and experience gained from this project, along with their expertise and experience in the UK inland diving sector and oil and gas projects, to help develop specific safe system of work or ‘Best Code of Practice’ for diving on offshore windfarms as part of the BWEA safety steering committee.