Seacontractors’ vessel duo completes first offshore wind gig in Taiwan

Seacontractors’ multi-purpose vessels Sea Charlie and Sea Buffalo, chartered by Jan de Nul, have completed their first job in Taiwan at Taiwan Power Company’s Changhua Phase 1 offshore wind farm.

The vessels were assisting Jan De Nul, which is responsible for the design, fabrication and installation of the foundations, the installation of the wind turbines, the supply and installation of the onshore and offshore cables, as well as for the upgrading of the substation.

Sea Charlie and Sea Buffalo, both equipped with heavy duty cranes, have left the project site after completing their charter and are now in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

“It is a first for Seacontractors to be working in Taiwan. It was extra challenging working in a new region during a global pandemic with new and constantly changing regulations, restrictions on the movements of personnel, vessels, equipment and supplies”, the vessel owner said.

With the first wind turbine now installed, the Changhua Phase 1 team is working on commissioning and the final termination of the subsea cable inside the tower.

Offshore construction started at the project site in July, with pin pile installation and export cable laying.

The 109.2 MW Changhua Phase 1 project will comprise 21 5.2 MW turbines scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

The Jan De Nul-Hitachi consortium secured the contract for the project at the beginning of 2018. 

Hitachi is in charge of manufacturing, assembly, operation and maintenance, and other works related to the wind turbines.