Gwynt y Môr Windfarm: Weekly Progress Report, 26th November 2012

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Jim Andrews

This is a summary of the weekly notice of operations for the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Windfarm issued on 26th November 2012 to harbour masters and sea users.  This notice describes progress with construction, recent operations, work planned for the next 7 days, and provides a list of vessels operating on the site with their contact details.

Wind Farm Construction Status

Progress with construction progress is illustrated in a map here, and summarised below:-

  • Monopiles: 61 installed, 99 remaining
  • Transition pieces: 56 installed, 104 remaining
  • Export cables: 1st cable (East) laid, still to be joined.  2nd cable (East) due to be laid.
  • Array cables: work not commenced

Navigation Hazards

There are presently a number of navigation hazards in and around the windfarm area.  These include:-

  • Unlit objects – there are presently 10 unlit monopiles and transition pieces within the windfarm boundary.  Our latest update about these hazards can be accessed here.
  • Exposed monopiles – there are currently five exposed monopiles, which may be submerged at certain states of tide.  These are detailed in our previous notice here.

The location of these hazards is shown in a map here.

Work carried out over past 7 days

The following work has been carried out in the past week:

  • Stanislav Yudin continued foundation installation duties then transited to  Holyhead for repairs to piling equipment.  Assisted by support vessels Anglian Monarch, Smit Angola and Union Boxer.
  • Penrhos Bay, Malltraeth Bay, Chinook, Scirocco and Penrhyn Bay utilised as Crew Transfer Vessels when required and sailed from Liverpool Marina and Canada Dock 3.
  • Colwyn Bay and Kinmel Bay utilised as Crew Transfer / Stand by vessel as required and based at Liverpool Marina.
  • Choice has been on guard vessel duties (see Notice to Mariners 13 here).  An MMO team has been aboard for drilling / piling activities with Friedrich Ernestine.
  • Cable barge Cable Enterprise has completed ploughing from OSP East to mid line joint junction, and entered Liverpool to collect Export Cable 2.
  • Multi purpose tug Vortex has handed duties back to Fairplay 27.
  • Smit Barge 12 has been on standby in Vittoria Dock.
  • Viking Barge 5 has been transporting components to site, assisted by tugs Smit Buffalo, Smit Beluga, Union Boxer & Union Emerald.
  • Viking Barge 3 has been transporting components to site, assisted by tugs Smit Buffalo, Smit Beluga, Union Boxer & Union Emerald.
  • Toisa Warrior continued with grouting operations, following Stanislav Yudin‘s transition piece installation programme.  Work was completed on 24th November and the vessel has now left the site.
  • Terramare 1 continued with diving operations (see Notice to Mariners 18 here)
  • Friederich Ernestine ccompleted work at E10A (transition piece installed & grouted, and moved to F10H to install the monopile and transition piece here.

Work planned for next 7 days

The work planned for the next 7 days on the site is:

  • Stanislav Yudin will continue installation of monopiles and transition pieces after returning from Holyhead, supported by Smit Angola, Anglian Monarch and Union Boxer.
  • Tremadoc Bay, Colwyn Bay, Kinmel Bay, Penryn Bay, Penhros Bay, Malltraeth Bay, Chinook and Scirocco will be utilised as Crew Transfer / Stand by vessels running out of Liverpool Marina and Canada Dock, Liverpool.
  • Choice will remain on station as guard vessel and conduct MMO duties during drilling activities.  Crew change planned for 27th / 28th November.
  • Cable barge Cable Enterprise and support vessels Fairplay 27, Whalsa Lass and MCS Ailsa will remain in Seaforth Dock, Liverpool, making preparations to lay 2nd Export Cable.
  • Viking Barge 3 and Viking Barge 5 will transport components to the windfarm area assisted by tugs Smit Buffalo, Smit Beluga, Union Boxer & Union Emerald on a regular basis.
  • Toisa Warrior will continue grouting operations as transition pieces are installed at Gwynt y Môr Offshore Windfarm.
  • DSV Terramare 1 will continue diving operations on site.
  • Friederich Ernestine will continue cleaning, drilling and grouting operations, and is due to return to Cammell Laird Wet Basin during the week (depending on weather and vessel movements).

List of vessels at site for next 7 days

The vessels that will be operating on the site over the next 7 days and their contact details are given below.  We have linked up the vessel names to MarineTraffic.com so that with just one mouse click you can find out more about their current location and recent activity.

All vessels will monitor VHF Channel 16.

Port Arrivals

The planned port arrivals over the next 7 days are:-

  • Cammel Laird Birkenhead/Port of Liverpool.
    • Smit Buffalo & Smit Beluga, on a daily basis within Tranmere Wet Basin.
    • Viking Barge 3 and Viking Barge 5 supported by Union Boxer, Union Emerald and 2 Smit tugs on a continuous basis from Tranmere Wet Basin towards the “Q1” Buoy.
    • Coasters Joerg N, Bente, Marlene and Manual Access Platform (MAPs) delivery vessels will continue to deliver components to Base Harbour at Birkenhead on a regular basis.
    • Construction vessels and support vessels may enter Liverpool at short notice to change crew and collect stores.
  • Mostyn.
    • No movements expected.
  • Liverpool marina / Cammell Lairds wet basin / Canada Dock
    • Tremadoc Bay, Colwyn Bay, Kinmel Bay, Penrhyn Bay, Penrhos Bay, Malltraeth Bay, Chinook & Scirocco on a daily basis.

Please contact Jim Andrews, Fishery Liaison Officer by e-mail or phone (+44(0)7908-225865) if you have any queries or concerns about these activities.

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