Strukton Immersion Projects B.V. has chartered Iceni Marine Services’ crew transfer vessels (CTVs) – Iceni Spirit and Iceni Courage – to support the company during the installation of the five gravity based foundations at the Blyth Demonstrator project over the summer.
The vessels have now started running daily from the Port of Blyth, transferring crew and equipment to assist with the installation of the hybrid gravity based foundations, with the first offshore transfer to a gravity foundation (GBF06) made on Thursday, 3 August, 2017.
Iceni Courage also provides overnight emergency response at the wind farm.
Maurice Reijm, Strukton Immersion Projects B.V: “We are pleased to have chartered Iceni Spirit and Iceni Courage for our works at the Blyth Demonstrator project. Iceni Marine have been very accommodating with our requirements and to date we have been impressed with the performance of both the vessels and the company.”
The gravity based foundations, developed by two BAM companies, BAM Nuttall and BAM Infra, are approaching completion on the Tyne in Newcastle with two of the five foundations successfully placed offshore.
Iceni Spirit and Iceni Courage are both 15m CTVs, each capable of transit speeds of up to 24 knots and outfitted to accommodate up to 12 passengers.
Richard Thurlow , Iceni Marine Services’ Director, said: “Iceni Marine are proud to be supporting Strukton Immersion Projects with this innovative demonstrator, which brings technological advances to the offshore wind industry. Iceni Spirit and Courage, together with their crews, bring proven experience and a highly professional approach to the project.”
The 41.5MW Blyth Offshore Demonstrator Project is the first to utilise the hybrid gravity based foundations, as well as 66kV electrical infrastructure.
It will feature five MHI Vestas 8MW turbines optimised to deliver a maximum output of 8.3MW.