13th October 2023 in Operations, Project news, Supply Chain
Certex UK’s Great Yarmouth based Engineering Services Division has won a major framework to supply statutory inspection and maintenance services on Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
The contract covers inspection and maintenance of cranes, personnel lifts, general lifting, and safety equipment across all the wind turbines and balance of plant.
Terry Hoenes, Renewables Divisional Manager, Certex UK said: “We have a long-established history working with Equinor on the Greater Wash windfarms off East Anglia and are delighted to have been awarded the 5-year framework. Our hard work over the years providing a strong service and the work put in to produce a competitive tender have paid off and we look forward to starting work on the GE platform wind turbine, the first of its kind in the UK”.
Certex UK Engineering Services Division is part of the Lifting Solutions Group of 22 companies with over 100 locations worldwide, with the renewable energy sector largely being served to date from the UK, Taiwan, and Denmark. However, a newly launched global renewables division incorporates additional companies in Germany, Spain, France, China, and the United States, which has recently pivoted towards wind energy.
Ian Shaw, Engineering Services Divisional Manager, said:
“This is another great step forward for our Engineering Services Division, and working closely with Equinor, gives us the opportunity to introduce more new starters to the industry through our mentorship and training programmes. Equinor has always been an excellent ambassador for development of new starters which helps us to grow a sustainable skilled workforce.” Shaw added “The wider renewables industry growth is continually accelerating, and we need to ensure the supply chain and pool of skilled workers are available, to play our part in this we have developed a route to career programme covering the entry level GWO safety training at our newly accredited facility in Doncaster and the technical inspection training at our site in Great Yarmouth. We have also recently started working with ex forces resettlement agencies and look forward to introducing many more new people to a career in wind”.
9th August 2023 in Press releases, Supply Chain
Intasite, a leading provider of innovative workplace safety solutions for high hazard industries, has been contracted by Equinor to create health and safety induction content for its operations and maintenance (O&M) base at Port of Tyne, South Shields.
In a unique element of the partnership, the customised induction content also includes videos featuring the children of the employees of the world’s largest offshore windfarm in health and safety and induction videos. This approach is intended to make the health and safety information more memorable and impactful.
The Dogger Bank Wind Farm currently under construction 130km off the North East coastline, will become the world’s largest offshore wind farm once complete in 2026. Dogger Bank’s O&M base has been constructed in the Tyne Dock Enterprise Park (TDEP) as part of the Port of Tyne’s Tyne Clean Energy Park.
Intasite’s collaboration with Dogger Bank Wind Farm adds to its growing presence in the renewable energy sector, following its partnership with SeAH Wind. The company has been actively working with various renewable organisations, including SSE Renewables, EDF Renewables, Hitachi Energy, SeAH Wind, and RWE, to develop safety induction processes and create safer working environments.
By using the Stockton-based business’s platform, companies can streamline the induction process and provide comprehensive and interactive safety modules that can be completed by visitors, staff, and contractors from any desktop or mobile device. The platform also offers features such as contractor and supplier management, safety briefings, language translations, and integration with access control for enhanced security.
Intasite’s commitment to providing effective and user-friendly health and safety induction solutions has gained recognition in the UK industry. The company’s in-house production team specialises in creating health and safety induction videos, ensuring that the content is tailored to specific safety requirements and industry standards.
Digitising and streamlining the induction process with Intasite’s platform enables organisations to improve employee engagement and comprehension, reduce compliance risks, and foster a culture of safety from day one.
Danielle Croce, director at Intasite, said: “We are pleased that once again, we have confirmed Intasite as the induction provider of choice for the renewable energy sector.
“By featuring employee’s children in the videos, this will make the health and safety information more memorable and impactful.”
David Collier, Equinor SSU lead for Dogger Bank, said: “At Dogger Bank, health and safety is our top priority. By utilising Intasite’s platform, we have successfully incorporated captivating content to the induction process, being able to include the children of our own employees. By connecting our team through their loved ones, we achieve not only heightened engagement but also a greater commitment to maintaining a safe and secure work environment.”
6th July 2023 in Press releases, Supply Chain
CHC Helicopter, a global helicopter services company specialising in offshore transportation, has been awarded a contract to support the construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
CHC has been contracted to provide crew change support for the development of the first phase of the project – Dogger Bank A, with the first flights launched at the end of April. The company is providing AW139 and H175 aircraft to support the contract from its Norwich base.
Alan Borland, Project Manager, Dogger Bank Wind Farm said:
“Being so far from shore presents new challenges to how we manage logistics in Offshore wind, which can only be overcome through the use of trusted suppliers so we are delighted that CHC will join the project to as our aviation partner to support us in our crew changes during the construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm.”
CHC Helicopter has a long-standing track record of delivering innovative aviation solutions in challenging environments worldwide.
David Grant, Sales Director, EMEA, said:
“We are thrilled to be selected as the aviation partner for the construction of the world’s largest offshore wind farm. This significant project represents a major step towards achieving a greener future, and we are fully committed to supporting the development of sustainable energy sources. Our team is hard at work already to provide safe and efficient services to ensure the success and on-time completion of this ambitious undertaking.”
20th June 2023 in Operations, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
The Dogger Bank Wind Farm Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Base has been awarded the Net Zero and Sustainability awards in the 2023 Constructing Excellence in the North-East (CENE) awards.
CENE is a business support organisation for the North-East construction, dedicated to delivering improved industry performance in order to achieve a better built environment. CENE are committed to working with industry, its customers, and the government to make change happen and deliver prosperity.
The awards are testament to the design of the Dogger Bank O&M base, which has been constructed in line with the UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC) Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework to meet the highest energy efficiency standards. 383 Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels have been installed for renewable energy generation, along with 20 electric vehicle charging points for staff and visitors. Less visible signs include the timber framework for the office buildings, the recycled steel structure for the warehouse and the highly efficient heating and cooling system.
In the United Kingdom, the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) provides an industry-acknowledged framework for determining the Net Zero Carbon (NZC) performance of the built environment, both during construction and operational stages. This framework incorporates two strands, one for NZC construction and one for NZC operations, both of which apply to the base.
The awards are shared with Ryder Architecture, headquartered in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, were responsible for the building’s design, Fairhurst who provided the civil and structural design, Bowmer & Kirkland who were responsible for construction of the base and CBRE who provided overall project management alongside Equinor.
Accepting the award on behalf of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, Prepare for Operations Manager Andrew Saunders said:
“We are proud to have won the Net Zero and Sustainability awards for the Dogger Bank Operations and Maintenance Base. The design of the building was focused not only on its functionality to operate the world’s largest wind farm, but also on its sustainable credentials, and it is thrilling that the industry has recognised the work we have done.”
The CENE Awards took place on Friday 16th June at The Grand Hotel in Gosforth Park, with the Dogger Bank O&M base having been shortlisted in the Net Zero, Building Project of the Year, and Sustainability categories. As winners of the Constructing Excellence in the North-East Awards, Dogger Bank will go forward to the National Constructing Excellence Awards later in the year and is hopeful for further recognition for the South Tyneside-located O&M base.
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.
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
