Latest news : Operations

Dogger Bank Operations and Maintenance base holds naming ceremony for North Star’s Grampian Tyne vessel

8th June 2023 in Operations, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain

North Star’s Keith Sutherland, Olly Cass from SSE Renewables, Matthew Gordon, North Star CEO, VARD’s Runar Vagnes, Equinor’s Kamala Hajiyeva, and William Ritchie, also North Star, stand in front of the Grampian Tyne vessel.

The first of North Star’s new offshore wind fleet, the Grampian Tyne, has been officially named at a VIP ceremony at the Dogger Bank Operations and Maintenance Base at the Port of Tyne in the North East of England (UK), ahead of its early handover to the Dogger Bank Wind Farm.

The traditional good luck celebration, involving the customary champagne bottle being smashed against the hull of the ship, was successfully carried out by the ship’s godmother, Lindsay Gordon, wife of North Star CEO, Matthew Gordon.

The service operation vessel (SOV) is of VARD 4 12-design and is one of four destined for decade-long minimum charters to support operations and maintenance (O&M) work at the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm and its partners Equinor (40%), SSE Renewables (40%), and Vårgrønn (20%). Once the wind farm is fully completed, it will be the largest in the world, producing enough electricity to power six million British homes.

Matthew Gordon, North Star CEO, said:

“Being able to welcome our clients and esteemed guests onboard the Grampian Tyne in all her glory has been an incredibly proud moment for the entire North Star team and everyone involved in its design and construction. The significance of the name is not just a simple nod to the river, but to the people and the community this vessel and wind farm serve. We’re extremely proud of the links being built with the local supply chain with a rich history of shipping on this waterway.

“We employ a very talented workforce who have remained completely focused throughout the project management, resulting in the ship being built, sea trialled, and outfitted ahead of time. We also work with an incredible local supply chain and look forward to seeing more investment and recruitment opportunities being brought to the area as we continue on our journey to deliver three further ships for Dogger Bank, which will also all be based out of Port of Tyne.”

All three remaining hybrid-electric powered SOV newbuilds, being built by VARD, are on track for being operational at Dogger Bank A, B and C by 2026. The company’s state-of-the-art design provides high-quality accommodation to offshore wind turbine technicians, as well as a centralised logistics hub configured to handle cargo and act as a functioning warehouse offshore.

Kamala Hajiyeva, head of Dogger Bank Development at Equinor, said:

“We are thrilled to welcome the new Grampian Tyne service operation vessel to our Operations and Maintenance base here at the Port of Tyne. The vessel provides a best in class working and living environment for our offshore wind technicians and team members, ensuring they can carry out essential maintenance safely and comfortably. The vessel’s advanced features will also provide essential services to the development of the Dogger Bank wind farm, that when complete in 2026, will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm.”

The Grampian Tyne boasts some of the most innovative technologies in the maritime sector. This includes medium speed MGO power generation gensets with hybrid battery architecture in-built, coupled with Voith-Schneider eVSP propulsion package to maximise the operating envelope offshore, reduce fuel burn and improve comfort for all on board. The inclusion of a side loading logistics concept allows quayside reloading directly to the SOV covered main deck warehouse facility for both the client’s cargo and ships stores safely and efficiently.

The operational planning is supported by a new best in-class decision support software and digital twin solution created with MO4 that will be deployed across the fleet to improve operational performance through predicational planning of client scheduling, metocean forecasts and collated KPI monitoring reporting.

The SOV is equipped with a bespoke new concept and designed daughter craft for effective high performance, safe and efficient offshore support of technician and cargo deployment, engineered to perform in up to 1.7m Hs sea-state.

Steve Wilson, Director for Capital Projects for Offshore at SSE Renewables, said:

“The naming of North Star’s first of four SOVs destined for Dogger Bank Wind Farm marks another key milestone in the project. For Aberdeen based company, North Star, to achieve handover of the SOV to Dogger Bank on schedule is testament to the hard work by everyone involved with the design and construction.

“Dogger Bank Wind Farm is fully committed to supporting the local supply chain and communities in the UK where possible and we’re proud to have played a role in enabling this UK company to take advantage of the global opportunity presented by offshore wind. It is evident that securing significant orders like this can really help UK businesses enter the offshore wind market, secure investment and create sustainable jobs.”

Each SOV is being built at VARD’s facilities in Vietnam. The Grace Darling, named after the British lighthouse keeper’s daughter who rescued survivors from a wrecked steamship off the coast of Northumberland in 1838, is North Star’s first of its associated hybrid-powered daughter craft used primarily as crew transfer vessels, was designed in collaboration with leading naval architects, Southampton-based Chartwell Marine. The SOV workboat was built by Alicat Workboats in Great Yarmouth.

CEO of VARD, Alberto Maestrini, said:

“We congratulate North Star with the naming ceremony of their first vessel in their renewable fleet. We are delighted that they chose VARD on their way to a sustainable future in the industry, and happy to deliver Grampian Tyne before schedule. This shows VARD’s strength as a fully integrated forward leaning designer and ship builder. Together we have developed a vessel that through its design and advanced technological solutions is tailor made with optimal standards to operate in harsh environment with a low environmental footprint. VARD aims to lead the green transition in the maritime industry, and through this collaboration with North Star, we both continue to enable sustainable business at sea.”

Last month (May), North Star contracted VARD for up to a further four new offshore wind vessels. The new commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs) take the firm a step closer to its ambition of expanding its fleet with 40 renewables fleet by 2040 to support the growing UK and European markets.

Picture caption (left to right): North Star’s Keith Sutherland, Olly Cass from SSE Renewables, Matthew Gordon, North Star CEO, VARD’s Runar Vagnes, Equinor’s Kamala Hajiyeva, and William Ritchie, also North Star.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm confirms next round of convertor station transformer deliveries 

11th May 2023 in Operations, Project news, Supply Chain

Dogger Bank Wind Farm’s tier one contractor Hitachi Energy is currently scheduled to begin transporting the latest electricity transformers, for the project’s second phase Dogger Bank B, from Hull to the project’s East Riding convertor station site near Cottingham from June 4.

Like last year’s deliveries during the project’s first phase, the transformers will travel from Albert Dock, Hull via the A63, A1034 and the A1079. The size of the transformers requires the use of abnormal load vehicles. There will be four deliveries anticipated on the mornings of 4 June and 11, 18 and June, with each delivery taking between 6-8 hours, dependent on the conditions. Further updates will be provided by the project as necessary

Rachel Lawrence, Community Engagement Manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said:

“We were extremely grateful for the patience of communities in this area during our first round of deliveries last year and while our contractor will again do everything it can to minimise disruption during these latest deliveries, it is possible some journey times may be slightly longer than normal, and we would ask the public for their understanding as we carry out this critical work.”

The transformers will be delivered on specialist girder frame trailers provided by UK firm Allelys. The trucks will be around 70 metres long and 5 metres wide and will travel at approximately 10 -15 miles per hour. To support the delivery the team has worked with contractors and local highway officials from East Riding of Yorkshire Council to carefully plan the route and minimise disruption to road users.

The specialist girder frame trailer will have a police escort to help manage traffic and make the process as smooth and safe as possible. Along the route, there may be a pause from time to time as the specialist trailer lowers its suspension to safely pass under bridges.

Overview of the route:

The delivery convoy consisting of the abnormal load vehicle, police and support vehicles will leave the Albert Dock in Hull and make its way westbound, along the A63 to join the A1034 at South Cave heading north. The convoy will then join the A1079 at Market Weighton, heading east until the outskirts of Beverley, where the vehicle will turn south remaining on the A1079 and is expected to arrive at the convertor station site entrance, located between Beverley and Cottingham in the afternoon on the specified dates.

The transformers will play an integral role in the operation of two onshore convertor stations in East Riding of Yorkshire that are currently under construction at the A1079 site between Beverley and Cottingham. Eventually they will convert the current from the wind farm for transmission via the national grid network to millions of UK homes after the renewable energy has made its way under the ground from the landfall point at Ulrome, between Bridlington and Hornsea.

ENDS

Picture caption: Allelys will deliver transformers to the Dogger Bank Wind Farm convertor station site.

Local artwork installed at Dogger Bank Operations and Maintenance Base

18th April 2023 in Community News, Operations, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain

Dogger Bank Wind Farm has partnered with Newcastle art gallery Gallagher & Turner to invest in local artwork which is being displayed permanently at the Operations and Maintenance Base in Port of Tyne.

  • Major investment in local creative industry
  • Over 30 pieces will be displayed
  • All works to be displayed are by North East artists
  • Employees invited to select the type of works to be displayed

The partnership represents a major investment in the local creative industry with over 30 pieces to be displayed, all by artists from North East England.

Clare Turner, Partner, Gallagher & Turner said: “The request to provide art for the Dogger Bank Operations and Maintenance base was an amazing opportunity for us to be able to assemble a portfolio of unique pieces by artists who work in the region.  We immediately felt creatives whose practice relates to the local environment, the narratives of the Tyne, the North Sea coast, its history and the unique power of the landscape of the North East, were going to connect best with all our shared environmental concerns. We were also delighted to be asked to work with an organisation that is making a profound effort to connect with the local area commercially as well as visually by supporting a small independent art gallery.”

Employees at the O&M base helped select the type of works to be displayed, ensuring that the pieces would be enjoyed and appreciated by staff working at the state-of-the-art facility. Among the many artists featured, art works include a new Ringed Plover painted commission by Paul Henery, and Crispian Heath will be creating two new large scale glass commissions.

Over the last thirty years we have been enthusiastic to run an exciting programme of continually changing exhibitions and with a pool of local talent to draw on we were able to propose a selection of original pieces for the building.  We had some great involvement and feedback from the staff who were excited to see our proposals and going forward we are hopeful they will be continually inspired by these artworks” added Clare.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm plans to continue the partnership with Gallagher & Turner with a yearly Purchase Prize for art students at Sunderland and Newcastle Universities for the next 4 years, with the selected works to be displayed at the facility. Together, they also plan to commission three original murals to be displayed, working with the local community, South Tyneside Council and Foundation Press.

Felicity Wann, Operations Leader at Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said: “We wanted our new O&M base to reflect the Dogger Bank strategy of investing in the local community, as well as giving employees the opportunity to shape the O&M base and really make it their own.  By investing in art by local artists we have been able to do both these things.  Working with a fantastic local gallery, who guided us throughout and ensured we have a cohesive collection, reflecting the Dogger Bank environmental focus and the landscapes of North East England, has made the whole process a joy.”

Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%). SSE Renewables is lead operator for the development and construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Equinor will be lead operator of the wind farm on completion for its expected operational life of around 35 years.

The wind farm, which will generate 3.6 GW of capacity, is being built in three 1.2 GW phases, named Dogger Bank A, B & C, and will be able to power the equivalent of 6 million UK homes on completion.

Picture caption: North East artists visit Dogger Bank Wind Farm Operations and Maintenance Base.  From Left to Right: Rosie Morris and Clare Turner (Gallagher & Turner), Rhiannon Robinson, Paul Henery, Lily Senner, Alex Charrington, Jill Campbell, Mark Halliday (Dogger Bank Wind Farm), Crispian Heath, and Felicity Wann and Tom Nightingale (Dogger Bank Wind Farm).

School choir blows away guests with performance at wind farm base opening ceremony

20th March 2023 in Community News, Operations

School choir

A South Shields primary school choir sang at the official opening of the operations and maintenance base for Dogger Bank Wind Farm at the Port of Tyne.

St Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, which is part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, attended the opening on behalf of the borough.

Jenny Parker, deputy headteacher and music lead at the primary school, said: “As a school situated in Tyne Dock, it has been wonderful to be involved in such an exciting event taking place on our doorstep and to raise the profile of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, which will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm upon completion.

“To be there at the opening has sparked interest in the children to find out more about renewable energy and the positive impact it has on our world.”

The choir comprises 29 pupils from Years 4, 5 and 6. They sang four songs to the guests as they arrived in the warehouse: Something Just Like This by Coldplay and The Chainsmokers, Rainbow by Kacey Musgraves, Fight Song by Rachel Platten and concluded with Big River by Jimmy Nail.

“The choir sang beautifully, and we received lots of compliments about their performance, particularly their rendition of Big River, which everyone loved,” added Mrs Parker.

Ethan Murry, nine, a Year 4 pupil, said: “We were very brave to sing in front of the mayor and the other important guests.”

Jesse Carr, nine, a pupil in Year 4, said: “I felt really underdressed walking in as everyone was in suits and ties.  It was really good fun though.”

Holly Walker, eight, also in Year 4, added: “I thought it was cool that we were given hats and scarves to wear.”

Tom Nightingale, North East Stakeholder Manager for Equinor said: “The ethos of Dogger Bank Wind Farm is to support local communities and our guests expected local dignitaries to attend the opening ceremony. However, we kept the choir a surprise and they far exceeded our expectations. Feedback so far is that this was the highlight for guests and even UK Minister for Energy and Climate Graham Stuart who attended the event has sent his personal thanks to the brilliant school choir. The acapella version of Big River was amazing for all to hear”.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%). SSE Renewables is lead operator for the development and construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Equinor will be lead operator of the wind farm on completion for its expected operational life of around 35 years.

South Tyneside Music Service emailed schools for interest to sing at the official opening and SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School was chosen.

 

Dogger Bank Wind Farm officially celebrates its Operations and Maintenance Base opening

15th March 2023 in Operations, Project news

  • 150 guests and employees gathered to celebrate the official opening.
  • The state-of-the-art base will be the hub for operations and monitor 5% of UK electricity from its control room.
  • Over 400 long-term jobs have been created locally to support Operations and Maintenance from South Tyneside for the 35-year life of the wind farm.
  • The world-class facility will be operated in line with the UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC) Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework

Yesterday, the local community and distinguished guests including Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Graham Stuart MP, gathered to celebrate the official opening of the O&M base for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, the world’s largest offshore wind farm.

150 employees and guests gathered in South Tyneside to christen the O&M base at Port of Tyne, which will serve as the hub for operations for Dogger Bank Wind Farm. The O&M base also houses the control room that will monitor and manage 5% of the UK’s electricity generating capacity, which is produced by the offshore wind farm.

Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Graham Stuart said:

“The UK already boasts the four largest offshore wind farms in the world and I am delighted that Dogger Bank will overtake all of them in three years’ time. Having already delivered on green jobs and growth, Dogger Bank will be at the heart of boosting energy security for Britain and meeting the Energy Security Secretary’s ambition to have among the cheapest wholesale electricity prices in Europe.”

Pål Eitrheim, EVP Renewables at Equinor, said:

“We’re proud to be delivering Dogger Bank Wind Farm with our partners SSE Renewables and Vårgrønn. We look forward to operating this major power generation asset for the next 35 years from the state-of-the art O&M base at the Port of Tyne. At Equinor, we always aim to bring economic value to the local community hosting our offshore wind project. This base is a shining example of the long-term, positive contribution that offshore wind will continue to bring to the North East of England.”

Dogger Bank Project Director at SSE Renewables, Oliver Cass, said:

“Today is an important day for everyone involved in our ground-breaking project as we move closer to delivering first power in the summer. Building a wind farm on this scale requires huge talent and dedication. I’d like to pay tribute to everyone who’s played their part in our journey so far, including the thousands of skilled UK employees who are truly world-class.”

Over 400 long-term roles have been created locally to support the operations and maintenance of the wind farm, based at the Port of Tyne facility. In total, over 2,000 UK jobs have been created or supported through the Dogger Bank project. The wind farm, which will generate 3.6 GW of capacity, is being built in three 1.2 GW phases, named Dogger Bank A, B & C, and will be able to power the equivalent of 6 million UK homes on completion.

Councillor Pat Hay, Mayor of South Tyneside, said:

“This is a milestone moment and I am delighted to be here to officially open this facility. South Tyneside is honoured to be at the heart of this project, whose benefits to our community, now and in the future, can’t be underestimated. Dogger Bank places us at the forefront of the UK’s offshore renewables industry and represents our commitment to growth, innovation and sustainability. Along with our private sector partners, we can build a cleaner, greener future and ensure our residents can capitalise from the opportunities this world-class facility is creating right on our doorstep.”

The Port of Tyne O&M base building was designed by Newcastle-based Ryder Architecture and has been constructed and will be operated in line with the UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC) Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework. Bowmer + Kirkland built the base with a focus on local construction, with over £7.5 million spent with construction companies in Northeast England.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%). SSE Renewables is lead operator for the development and construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Equinor will be lead operator of the wind farm on completion for its expected operational life of around 35 years.

Picture caption: Project Director Olly Cass, Mayor of South Tyneside Jan Hay, Operations Director Mark Halliday, Council Leader Tracey Dixon, EVP Renewables Equinor, Pal Eitrheim

(Photo: Dave Bell / Equinor ASA)