Trenching and boulder clearance completed

Mobilised on the Havila Jupiter, the PLP240 began boulder clearance on the site in April following rigorous testing on a directly comparable set of seabed conditions close by. The multi-function pre-lay plough was trialled in all modes: boulder clearance, pre-cut, simultaneous clearance and cutting, multi-pass and backfill. Commissioned from and designed in collaboration with Osbit Limited, with delivery to coincide with the Danish Kriegers Flak project commencement, the plough minimises the operational risk and total time required to install subsea cables.

Overall 72 routes have been completed, totalling approximately 158km, supported by the Global Symphony and Normand Clipper undertaking boulder picking in the densely populated boulder fields. Despite the tough conditions, the PLP240 has achieved target trench depths in the majority, going over and above the project requirements, up to 1.7m in a large portion of the site.

The Havila Jupiter and PLP240 will shortly begin work on Kincardine, where the team will complete route preparation and boulder clearance at the floating offshore wind site.

By Jake Frith