Gwynt y Môr Windfarm: Weekly Progress Report, 5th November 2012

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Jim Andrews

This is a summary of the weekly notice of operations for the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Windfarm issued on 5th November 2012 to harbour masters and sea users.  This notice describes progress with construction, recent operations, work planned for the next 7 days, and provides a list of vessels operating on the site with their contact details.

Wind Farm Construction Status

Progress with construction progress is illustrated in a map here, and summarised below:-

  • Monopiles: 51 installed, 109 remaining
  • Transition pieces: 46 installed, 114 remaining
  • Export cables: 1st cable pull into OSP East commenced 21st October 2012.
  • Array cables: work not commenced

Navigation Hazards

There are presently a number of navigation hazards in and around the windfarm area.  These include:-

  • Unlit objects – there are presently 14 unlit monopiles and transition pieces within the windfarm boundary.  Our latest update about these hazards can be accessed here.
  • Exposed monopiles – there are currently five exposed monopiles, which may be submerged at certain states of tide.  These are detailed in our previous notice here.

The location of these hazards is shown in a map here.

Work carried out over past 7 days

The following work has been carried out in the past week:

  • Stanislav Yudin continued foundation installation duties assisted by support vessels Anglian Monarch, Smit Angola and Union Boxer.
  • Penrhos Bay, Malltraeth Bay, Chinook, Scirocco, Kinmel Bay and Penrhyn Bay utilised as Crew Transfer Vessels when required and sailed from Liverpool Canada Dock 3.
  • Colwyn Bay & Tremadoc Bay utilised as Crew Transfer / Stand by vessels as required and based at Liverpool Marina.
  • Choice has been on guard vessel duties (see Notice to Mariners 13 here).
  • Cable barge Cable Enterprise has been slowly heading away from East Offshore Substation, export cable 1.
  • Multi purpose tug Vortex arrived on site to replace Fairplay 27.
  • DP Vessel Sentinel continued with site clearance operations at the windfarm (see notice here).
  • Smit Barge 12 has been on standby in Vittoria Dock.
  • Viking Barge 5 has been transporting components to site, assisted by tugs Smit Buffalo, Smit Beluga, Union Boxer & Union Emerald.
  • Viking Barge 3 has been transporting components to site, assisted by tugs Smit Buffalo, Smit Beluga, Union Boxer & Union Emerald.
  • Toisa Warrior continued with grouting operations, following Stanislav Yudin‘s transition piece installation programme.
  • Terramare 1 continued with diving operations (see Notice to Mariners 18 here)
  • Friederich Ernestine continued with trials and ongoing repairs, departed Wet Basin 3rd November 2012 for wind turbine location J7J.

Work planned for next 7 days

The work planned for the next 7 days on the site is:

  • Stanislav Yudin will continue installation of monopiles and transition pieces supported by Smit Angola, Anglian Monarch and Union Boxer.
  • Tremadoc Bay, Colwyn Bay, Kinmel Bay, Penryn Bay, Penhros Bay, Malltraeth Bay, Chinook and Scirocco will be utilised as Crew Transfer / Stand by vessels running out of Liverpool Marina and Canada Dock, Liverpool.
  • Choice will remain on station as guard vessel.
  • Cable barge Cable Enterprise and support vessels Vortex, Whalsa Lass and MCS Ailsa will complete export cable pull in operations at OSP East and commence cable lay operations from OSP East towards the mid line joint location.
  • DP Vessel Sentinel will complete site clearance operations in the windfarm area (see Notice to Mariners 16 here), and is now in the process of demobilisation.
  • Viking Barge 3 and Viking Barge 5 will transport components to the windfarm area assisted by tugs Smit Buffalo, Smit Beluga, Union Boxer & Union Emerald on a regular basis.
  • Toisa Warrior will continue grouting operations as transition pieces are installed at Gwynt y Môr Offshore Windfarm.
  • DSV Terramare 1 will continue diving operations on site.
  • Friederich Ernestine will start cleaning trial and grouting operations, starting at wind turbine location J7J.

List of vessels at site for next 7 days

The vessels that will be operating on the site over the next 7 days and their contact details are given below.  We have linked up the vessel names to MarineTraffic.com so that with just one mouse click you can find out more about their current location and recent activity.

All vessels will monitor VHF Channel 16.

Port Arrivals

The planned port arrivals over the next 7 days are:-

  • Cammel Laird Birkenhead/Port of Liverpool.
    • Smit Buffalo & Smit Beluga, on a daily basis within Tranmere Wet Basin.
    • Viking Barge 3 and Viking Barge 5 supported by Union Boxer, Union Emerald and 2 Smit tugs on a continuous basis from Tranmere Wet Basin towards the “Q1” Buoy.
    • Coasters Joerg N, Bente, Marlene and Map’s vessel will continue to deliver components to Base Harbour at Birkenhead on a regular basis.
    • Construction vessels and support vessels may enter Liverpool at short notice to change crew and collect stores.
  • Mostyn.
    • No movements expected.
  • Liverpool marina / Cammell Lairds wet basin / Canada Dock
    • Tremadoc Bay, Colwyn Bay, Kinmel Bay, Penrhyn Bay, Penrhos Bay, Malltraeth Bay, Chinook & Scirocco on a daily basis.

Please contact Jim Andrews, Fishery Liaison Officer by e-mail or phone (+44(0)7908-225865) if you have any queries or concerns about these activities.

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