The first three tripod foundations for the offshore wind farm Global Tech I have been shipped with the INNOVATION heavy-lift jack-up vessel from Bremerhaven to the construction area.
This will start the construction of the wind farm, which is located 180 kilometers north-west off Bremerhaven in the North Sea. The wind farm will contain 80 wind turbines which will power 445,000 households.
Thomas Meerpohl, Commercial Director of Global Tech I Offshore Wind GmbH said: “Bremerhaven is an important site for construction of our wind farms. The majority of our foundations are finally assembled at WeserWind and stored at the ABC-Halbinsel terminal. This spatial proximity is for us a clear logistical advantage. “
Half of the 80 foundations and associated piles for anchoring in the sea floor are made by the Tripod Global Tech 1, a consortium of WeserWind and Erndtebrücker Eisenwerk GmbH & Co. KG. The final assembly of the tripods takes place at the Bremerhaven WeserWind’s manufacturing site. From there, two foundations are moved by rail system to a special floating pontoon and towed by a boat to temporary storage atthe AB- Halbinsel. Again on land, they are transported by heavy lifting vehicles to their depository site. The piles are then on transported by a ship from production to storage sites.
Arjen Schampers, Technical Director of Global Tech I Offshore Wind GmbH stated: “The construction of offshore wind farms in water depth of 40 meters is indeed a technological challenge. We are confident that we are well positioned with our offshore experienced team and partners to build the wind farm successfully. The installation vessel INNOVATION, like the construction equipment are adequately sized for the offshore work. For example, the crane can lift 1,500 tons of weight. “
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Offshore WIND staff, September 17, 2012; Image: globaltechone