Gwynt y Môr Windfarm: Weekly Progress Report, 29th July 2013

This is a summary of the weekly notice of operations for the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Windfarm issued on 29th July 2013 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 is illustrated in a map here, and summarised below:-

• Monopiles: 146 installed, 14 remaining.
• Transition pieces: 106 installed, 54 remaining.
• Export cables: Installation of 1st and 2nd cables to OSP East is complete.  Installation of 3rd and 4th cables to OSP West is complete.
• Wind Turbine Generators: 41 installed, 119 remaining.

Navigation Hazards

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

• Unlit objects – there are presently 26 unlit monopiles, transition pieces & turbines within the windfarm boundary.  The location of these hazards is shown in a map here.
• Exposed monopiles – there are currently 40 exposed monopiles, which may be submerged at certain states of tide.  Extreme care should be observed in the vicinity of these monopiles.  Advice about exposed monopiles is given 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:

• Friederich Ernestine is continuing with Monopile cleaning and Transition Piece installation.
  
• Stanislav Yudin and supporting tugs continued Monopile and Transition Piece installation (see our previous notice here).
• Wind Solution maintained anchor position to the south of Gwynt y Môr (see our previous notice here).
• Penrhyn Bay, Caernarfon Bay, Gardian, Gaillion, Chinook, Scirocco, Abersoch Bay, Porth Dinllaen, Porth Diana and Endurance utilised as Crew Transfer Vessels when required sailing from Canada Dock 3.
• Penrhos Bay & Tremadoc Bay are on 24 hour cover and being utilised by the Emergency Rescue Team sailing from RWE Pontoon Birkenhead.
• Colwyn Bay utilised as Crew Transfer / Stand by vessel as required and based at Liverpool Marina.
• Kinmel Bay, Athenia, Adventure, Captain P, Commodore P, Endeavour and Buzzard CTVs sailed from Mostyn as required.
• Isadale  is performing guard duties and will be used as the Marine Mammal Observation vessel.
• Normand Tonjer has continued diving operations.
• Terramare 1 left the project.
• Polar Prince has continued array cable installation.
• Sea Jack and Sea Worker continued turbine installation returning to the Port of Mostyn to reload (see our previous notice here).
• JB114 remained in Cammell Laird wet basin to fit out drill rig and equipment.
• Barges UR7 &UR3 towed by lead tug Union Fighter continued with component deliveries to the Stanislav Yudin.
• Union Diamond assisted with deliveries offshore to construction vessels.

Work planned for next 7 days

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

• Friederich Ernestine and support vessels will continue with monopile cleaning and TP installation in the windfarm area.
• Stanislav Yudin will continue with foundation installation duties (see our previous notice here).
• Wind Solution will remain at anchor position to the south of Gwynt y Môr (see our previous notice here).
• Sea Jack and Sea Worker turbine installation vessels will continue with wind turbine installation (see our previous notice here).
• Penrhyn Bay, Colwyn Bay, Caernarfon Bay, Abersoch Bay, Porth Dinllaen, Porth Diana, Gardian, Gaillion, Chinook, Scirocco and Endurance will be utilised as Crew Transfer Vessels when required sailing from Liverpool Marina and Canada Dock 3.
• Penrhos Bay & Tremadoc Bay will provide 24 hour Emergency Rescue Team cover.  Endurance will join the rest of the flotilla based at Liverpool next week.
• Kinmel Bay, Athenia, Adventure, Endeavour, Captain P, Commodore P, Montrose Marine and Buzzard CTVs are sailing from Mostyn.
• Normand Tonjer will continue diving operations including work with the Polar Prince to aid installation of array cables.
• Polar Prince will continue with cable laying operations.
• Isadale will continue performing guard duties and will be used as the Marine Mammal Observation vessel as and when required.
• JB114 will be alongside in Cammell Laird wet basin, having grill fitted for future operations at the wind farm.  Date of departure to be confirmed.
• Smit Buffalo and Smit Bulldog will continue moving barges around the wet basin for loading of components for Stanislav Yudin.
• Union Fighter, UR7 & UR3 will continue to deliver components to the Stanislav Yudin as required.

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.