Gwynt y Môr Windfarm: Weekly Progress Report, 30th December 2012

This is a summary of the weekly notice of operations for the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Windfarm issued on 30th December 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: 80 installed, 80 remaining
  • Transition pieces: 56 installed, 104 remaining
  • Export cables: 1st cable (East) laid, still to be joined.  2nd cable (East) now due to be laid in summer 2013.
  • 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 is  presently 1 unlit monopile within the windfarm boundary.  Our latest update about these hazards can be accessed here.
  • Exposed monopiles – there are currently 24 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 completed monopile installation duties assisted by support vessels Anglian Monarch, Smit Angola and Union Boxer.
  • Penrhos Bay, Malltraeth Bay, Chinook, Scirocco and Penrhyn Bay utilised as Crew Transfer Vessels when required and sailed from Liverpool Marina and Canada Dock 3.
  • Colwyn Bay and Kinmel Bay utilised as Crew Transfer / Stand by vessel as required and based at Liverpool Marina.
  • George Johannes continued guard vessel duties (see Notice to Mariners 13 here).  An MMO team has been aboard for drilling / piling activities with Friedrich Ernestine.
  • Smit Barge 12 has been on standby in Vittoria Dock.
  • Viking Barge 3 has been transporting components to site, assisted by tugs Smit Buffalo, Smit Beluga, Union Boxer & Union Emerald.
  • Viking Barge 5 has been transporting components to site, assisted by tugs Smit Buffalo, Smit Beluga, Union Boxer & Union Emerald.
  • Terramare 1 continued with diving operations (see Notice to Mariners 18 here)
  • Friederich Ernestine continued work at F10H, then alongside the wet basin at Birkenhead.
  • Normand Tonjer continues mobilisation, and is alongside in Liverpool.

Work planned for next 7 days

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

  • Friederich Ernestine will depart Birkenhead to continue installation of monopiles & transition pieces.
  • 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.
  • George Johannes will remain on station as guard vessel and conduct MMO duties during drilling activities.
  • DSV Terramare 1 will continue diving operations on site.
  • Normand Tonjer will start diving operations.
  • Waverider buoy will be relayed, vessel tbc.

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, Union Fighter and Union Emerald will assist with the sailing of Viking Barge 3 and Viking Barge 5 en route to their next port.
    • Coasters Joerg NBenteMarlene and Manual Access Platform (MAPs) delivery vessels 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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