4C Offshore Empowering Intelligence

Vattenfall pontoon ready for work

4C Offshore | Matthew White
By: Matthew White 02/05/2018 Aberdeen Harbour
Aberdeen HarbourVattenfall completed the construction of a 30m long floating crew transfer pontoon in the Aberdeen Harbour’s Albert Basin.

The 180m² pontoon has been built on Commercial Quay West as part of a 24-year agreement with the Harbour Board and can accommodate up to three crew transfer vessels at any one time.

It will initially be used to support construction of Vattenfall’s
European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) and then as a marine support base for its on-going operations and maintenance (O&M) programme. Crew movements will peak during the commissioning period, the operations activity and in the summer for planned maintenance.

Adam Ezzamel,
European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre project director at Vattenfall, said: “An integral part of developing offshore wind farms is safe access to the wind turbines for the commissioning and on-going O&M phase. This involves regular planned and ad hoc visits of technicians to inspect, maintain and service the offshore infrastructure. 

“The mooring pontoon will provide a safe means of embarking and disembarking the crew transfer vessel which shuttle technicians to the EOWDC offshore site, Scotland’s largest offshore wind test and demonstration facility. As a result, we are pleased it will also become a new renewables asset for the harbour and support the development of the region’s marine renewables industry.”  


Aberdeen Harbour Commercial Director, Matt North, commented: “We are delighted to be providing a marine support base for this important development, and this initiative represents the port’s first long-term agreement in support of an offshore-wind project.

“At Aberdeen Harbour, we have always been at the centre of the energy industry and we hope to provide increasing support for this market and support our customers with other such diversification opportunities. We look forward to a long and productive relationship with Vattenfall.”


The 30m crew transfer pontoon comes with a secure access ramp leading to a 26m long bridge section for safe access in and out. Secured by three 24m long, 914mm diameter steel piles anchored into the seabed, it is outfitted with a lighting array to facilitate 24-hour operation as well as mains power and safety and survival equipment. 

Earlier this month, Vattenfall's
European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre Offshore wind farm began installation of its MHI Vestas turbines. The wind farm consists of two V164-8.8 MW turbines and nine V164-8.4 MW turbines and has a total capacity of 93.2MW.

For more information follow the links provided.

Premium

ForeSEE Premium, our most popular subscription, gives you full access to use the ForeSEE WebApp which includes exclusive offshore wind, transmission and vessel reports, news and downloads.

Request a 30 minute Demo

Trending News!