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Largest jack-up vessel Voltaire arrives in the UK to build largest wind farm in the world

19th June 2023 in Construction, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain

  • Largest offshore jack-up vessel and first seaworthy ultra-low emission installation vessel Voltaire arrives in the UK for her very first assignment on Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
  • The vessel will install turbines for all three Dogger Bank Wind Farm phases, a total of 277 units of GE Renewable Energy Haliade-X offshore wind turbines.

The largest offshore jack-up installation vessel ever built, Voltaire, has just arrived in the UK port of Able Seaton ahead of its first campaign on Dogger Bank Wind Farm.

Voltaire of Jan De Nul Group was delivered in late 2022. Since then she has been undertaking final preparations for her very first assignment, the construction of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm phases A, B and C.

In total, the vessel will be responsible for installing 277 GE Renewable Energy Haliade-X turbines. Voltaire will sail out in early July to begin installation

Olly Cass, Dogger Bank Wind Farm Project Director, said:

“As offshore wind technology grows in scale and power, the industry needs stronger vessels that are capable of meeting these engineering challenges. With its lifting capacity of more than 3,000 tonnes and ultra-low emissions design, we can’t wait to see this next generation vessel take on the challenge of installing some of the world’s largest and most powerful turbines, as we head towards first power for Dogger Bank A this summer.”

Jan Van Impe, Manager Jan De Nul Offshore Renewables, said:

“Dogger Bank Wind Farm is exactly the type of project we had in mind when we took the decision to build our Voltaire. The scale and characteristics of the offshore Dogger Bank turbines offer the perfect challenge for this next generation state-of-the art jack-up installation vessel. We are excited to continue our contribution to the energy transition together with industry leaders SSE Renewables, Equinor and Vårgrønn by installing the offshore wind turbines at Dogger Bank A, B and C in the most efficient and clean manner possible.”

Voltaire is the first seaworthy installation vessel to be an Ultra-Low Emission vessel

Voltaire, named after the pioneering European Enlightenment philosopher, has a lifting capacity of over 3,000 tonnes.

The vessel is fitted with a highly advanced exhaust filtering system by means of a selective catalytic reduction system and a diesel particulate filter, making her the very first seagoing installation vessel of her kind to be an Ultra-Low Emission vessel (ULEv), moreover Stage V-certified.

Picture caption: The offshore jack-up installation vessel Voltaire is the largest of her kind in the world and is able to install the next generation of offshore wind turbines starting with the Dogger Bank wind turbines of +13MW and 14MW. Image credit: Jan De Nul 

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.

Correll Group secures contract on Dogger Bank Wind Farm with DEME Offshore

2nd June 2023 in Construction, Project news, Supply Chain

The Correll Group’s electrical engineering division has been awarded a contract by DEME Offshore to complete inter-array cable termination and testing on 95 wind turbines and the offshore substation platform on the first phase of Dogger Bank Wind Farm.

The Cleveland-head-quartered firm in the north-east of England, is one of a number of UK companies helping to support the safe installation and testing of critical marine equipment for the world-leading project.

DEME previously awarded contracts to Darlington-based Tekmar and Proserv’s Great Yarmouth Centre of Excellence team for the delivery of cable protection and cable monitoring systems.

More than 2,000 UK based jobs are being created or supported in relation to the construction and operation of , including over 400 long-term jobs that have been created locally in the north-east of England to support operations and maintenance from South Tyneside for the 35-year life of the wind .

It’s anticipated DEME’s contract with Correll will support around 50 skilled UK-based jobs.

Sam Dowey, Managing Director at Correll, said:

“We are delighted to have been awarded this contract from Deme Offshore, also extremely proud to be delivering works for a local wind farm utilising local content.”

Dogger Bank Wind Farm marine package manager, Alan Evans, said:

“Correll Group will play an important role in the safe installation and testing of sub-sea equipment in preparation for first power this summer.

“They will join a number of UK-based firms helping to build the critical marine infrastructure needed for this world-leading project including the manufacturers of our cable protection and cable monitoring systems.”

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.

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

World’s first unmanned HVDC offshore platform installed at world’s largest offshore wind farm

20th April 2023 in Construction, Project news

  • Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be first UK High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) connected offshore wind farm
  • 70% reduction in topside weight per MW for offshore platforms

Construction of what will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank, has reached another milestone with the installation of the world’s first unmanned High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) offshore substation.

The substation is the first of three platforms, supplied by Aibel, to be installed at Dogger Bank, which is being constructed in three 1.2GW phases known as A, B and C.

The Dogger Bank A platform measures 65 x 36 metres across and 39 metres high and sits on a four-legged steel jacket foundation structure which is fixed to the seabed, at a water depth of around 28m.

Approximately 146km from the nearest point of land at Flamborough Head, near Bridlington in East Riding of Yorkshire, the platform installation was delivered by principal contractor Sapiem.

The innovative offshore platform has a lean design and is the first unmanned HVDC platform which will be operated from shore and accessed only by a Service Operations Vessel. The platform will receive 1.2GW of AC power from Dogger Bank A’s 95 offshore wind turbines and convert it to DC, which will then be sent ashore to an onshore convertor station near Beverley in East Riding of Yorkshire.

Fitted with Hitachi Energy’s latest generation HVDC converter technology, Dogger Bank will be the first offshore wind project in the UK to use this technology to transmit the electricity produced back to shore, ensuring that the electricity is transmitted efficiently over long distances while minimising losses.

Olly Cass, Project Director for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said:

“The safe and successful installation of the offshore platform marks a major milestone in the Dogger Bank project. As the UK’s first HVDC platform for an offshore windfarm it is also a major milestone for the UK industry more widely.

“The platform will be controlled from shore and by removing the need for personnel to stay on the platform meant it has been possible to eliminate elements such as the living quarters, helideck and sewage systems, resulting in a 70% reduction in weight (per megawatt) of the topside compared to previous platforms installed, and cost savings of hundreds of millions of pounds.

“Teams continue to make good progress with the installation of turbine foundations and later in Q2 specialist cable installation and support vessels will start to install the inter-array network of cables that will connect the turbines to the offshore platform to enable transmission of first power in the summer.”

Dogger Bank Wind Farm, a joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor, and Vårgrønn, is set to be the world’s largest offshore wind farm consisting of 277 wind turbines. The wind farm will be capable of of generating 3.6GW of renewable energy which is enough clean and sustainable electricity to power more than 6 million homes. 

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