Operations & Maintenance
SAL in Wikinger OWF Project
In October 2014 the first phase of the pile testing campaign for the Wikinger offshore wind farm project was launched after the site’s geotechnical investigation on the Baltic Sea had been completed. German engineering and services group Bilfinger was awarded the test pile contract and chose SAL Hea
Gwynt y Môr Gets Its Final Array Cable
The final array cable has been installed at RWE Innogy’s flagship 576MW Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm, off the North Wales coast, completing the construction phase of the project. The project is now progressing towards its ultimate milestone, the final commissioning and operation of all remaining 4
Ofgem Posts Funding for UK Energy Network Projects
Ofgem has confirmed funding of £46.4 million for eight projects as part of its innovation competitions for the network companies that deliver energy to homes and businesses. Ofgem runs three innovation competitions to help Britain’s energy networks become smarter and more cost-efficient. The Low Car
Pelamis Put into Administration
Pelamis has been unable to secure the additional funding required for further development of the Company’s wave energy technology. As a result of this the board has reluctantly moved to appoint an administrator to assess the options for securing the future for the business and employees of Pelamis.
Highlights of the Week
Subsea World News has put together a recap of the most interesting articles from the previous week (November 17 – November 23). French oil services provider Technip has announced that, on Monday, November 10, 2014, it approached CGG to create a first tier oil and gas services provider. The pro
Fugro Lands Hornsea Geotechnical Survey
DONG Energy has awarded a contract for one of the largest seabed investigation campaigns in the history of the offshore wind industry to a UK company. Worth £13 million, the contract has been won by Wallingford-based Fugro GeoConsulting, part of the Fugro Group, the integrator of geotechnical, surve
Dolphin’s Polar Empress Gets Its Helideck
The newest edition to Dolphin’s fleet, high-capacity purpose-built vessel M/V Polar Empress, owned by GC Rieber Shipping, had its helideck installed this week. The seismic company Dolphin Geophysical has contracted the vessel for a fixed period of five years, and the high end vessel will enter this
Statens Vegvesen Invites Tenders for Subsea Tunnel Initial Survey
Statens vegvesen (The Norwegian Public Roads Administration) has been assigned to review the E39 as a ferry-free road connection along the coast of Vestlandet, Western Norway. This includes, as one of the main priorities, the construction of an underwater tunnel that crosses the Romsdal Fjord. The c
Deltares to test design for the world’s largest tidal lagoon
Deltares will be testing the design for the planned tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay, South Wales. Incorporating sixteen turbines that can deliver 320 MW, the tidal lagoon will be the world’s largest. It will be built to scale in the facilities hall in Delft so that the hydrodynamic efficiency of the des
Harkand Nets Southern North Sea Deal
Harkand has won a multi-million pound dive support contract from an undisclosed client. The contract award is for the Southern North Sea region and it’s expected to start later this month. Under the contract, Harkand will mobilise its dive support vessel the Harkand Atlantis to excavate and remove e
Deltares to Test Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon Design
Deltares will be testing the design for the Tidal Lagoon Plc’s planned tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay, South Wales. Incorporating sixteen turbines that can deliver 320 MW, the tidal lagoon will be the world’s largest. It will be built to scale in the facilities hall in Delft so that the hydrodynamic ef
Technip Moves to Buy CGG
French oil services provider Technip has announced that, on Monday, November 10, 2014, it approached CGG to create a first tier oil and gas services provider. The proposed transaction would take the form of a public tender offer in cash for CGG’s shares at a price of 8.30 euros per share. This indus
Seahorse Ready for Gwynt y Môr Scour Protection Works
Rock dumping vessel Seahorse will start scour protection operations at various locations within and around the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm in late November 2014, AWJ Marine informs. A Notice to Mariners issued regarding the work recquires all vessel traffic to keep at least 500m clear of Seahorse
SME completes first round of PLAT-O sea trials
Sustainable Marine Energy (SME) has completed its first round of sea trials with its tidal energy platform, PLAT-O. PLAT-O was launched from the company’s facility in Venture Quays, East Cowes, Isle of Wight and towed to the test site at Yarmouth. Once at the site PLAT-O was submerged to installatio