8th June 2023 in Operations, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
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.
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.”
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.
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).
27th March 2023 in Project news, Supply Chain, Uncategorised
- Work involves mechanical and electrical activities for the pre-assembly of the towers and nacelles
- Award supports 90 local jobs associated with multi-year effort to install, test, and commission Dogger Bank Wind Farm
GE Renewable Energy has selected Eastgate Engineering, based in Billingham, Teesside, to provide mechanical and electrical activities for the pre-assembly of the towers and nacelles for the Haliade-X turbines to be used at Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
The contract is expected to support approximately 90 local jobs including electrical and mechanical technicians, supervision and project management.
The mechanical and electrical engineering work will be done at Able Seaton Port, the Dogger Bank Wind Farm marshalling harbour. The work began in January 2023 and is expected to continue throughout all three phases of the pre-assembly of the wind farm, which is set to conclude in 2026.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm Commercial Director Simon Bailey, said:
“Eastgate Engineering is a very welcome addition to our Dogger Bank Wind Farm supply chain, as they help us prepare for turbine installation later this year. The Billingham-based company is one of a number of firms in the north-east bringing expertise to our world-leading project, which is supporting more than 2,000 UK-based roles during construction and operation.”
Nathan Fahey, GE Project Director for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said:
“We are pleased to announce that we have selected Eastgate Engineering to provide mechanical and electrical engineering support for the Dogger Bank Offshore Wind farm. They have the expertise and strong local presence we are looking for in the companies we are engaging to support this project. This award is another in a series of contracts with companies in the Teesside area that will both support and create jobs today and well into the future.”
David Brennan, Managing Director of Eastgate Engineering, said:
“Eastgate Engineering is delighted to work in close partnership with GE to deliver the world’s largest offshore wind farm. Our highly skilled, locally based workforce is excited to support such a historic project with such an important role to play in bringing more clean, renewable offshore wind online in the UK.”
GE announced in December 2022 it had selected Mammoet UK, based in Thornaby Teesside, to supply onshore heavy lifting and transport for the staging and assembly of turbine components for Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
