DEME progresses Moray Firth monopile installation project
DEME’s flagship Orion has completed monopile installation works on Ocean Winds’ Moray West offshore windfarm project in Scotland.
Despite harsh winter conditions, DEME swiftly installed 29 monopiles in approximately two months. Now, DEME’s DP2 jack-up vessel Apollo is installing the transition pieces.
”With the deployment of the new installation technology, we were able to complete this part of the DEME scope smoothly and efficiently. It truly demonstrates Orion’s efficiency, particularly its double-stage motion-compensated gripper,” said Lucien Romagnoli, business unit director UK, Ireland & Belgium at DEME Offshore.
“We are eager to continue the momentum with ‘Apollo’ and seamlessly complete the transition piece installation, delivering another project to the full satisfaction of our client.”
Industry milestone
When completed, The Moray West offshore windfarm, developed by Ocean Winds in Scotland’s Moray Firth, will generate 882 MW, powering over 1.3 million homes.
A key industry milestone has been delivered by DEME installing the first complete foundations for near 15 MW turbines. During the project, dedicated novel tools were deployed such as a Quad Vibro Hammer and pioneering bolting equipment for M90 bolts.
Orion transported the 29 monopiles, which weigh up to 2000 tonnes each, from the port of Invergordon and installed them in full DP mode, without the use of anchors.
The vessel’s specially designed and high-tech motion compensated pile gripper, in combination with its 5,000-tonne crane and vessel ballasting techniques, enabled efficient operations despite the notorious Scottish winter weather conditions.
The Vibro Hammer was used to overcome the risks of pile-runs, due to the combination of soft and hard soil layers. Afterwards the piles were hammered to the target depth with a hydraulic Impact Hammer.
DEME’s jack-up vessel Apollo is performing the transition piece installation which is expected to be finalised in the coming months. This efficient way of working accelerated and de-risked the schedule of the project which has a very limited installation period.
Meanwhile ‘Orion’ has started its voyage across the Atlantic Ocean back to the United States, heading to its next project in Virginia where it will prepare for the installation of 176 foundations on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project for Dominion Energy.
