Gwynt y Môr Windfarm: Weekly Progress Report, 11th March 2013

This is a summary of the weekly notice of operations for the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Windfarm issued on 11th March 2013 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 is illustrated in a map here, and summarised below:-

• Monopiles: 80 installed, 80 remaining
• Transition pieces: 60 installed, 100 remaining
• Export cables: 1st cable (East) laid, still to be joined.  2nd cable (East) now due to be laid in summer 2013.
• 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 13 unlit monopiles within the windfarm boundary.  Information about these hazards can be accessed here.
• Exposed monopiles – there are currently 20 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:

• Friederich Ernestine is currently drilling for monopile penetration at turbine location H19F.
  
• Penrhos Bay, Penrhyn Bay, Caernarfon Bay, Chinook and Scirocco 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.
• Gardian and Gaillion are now in Canada Dock.
• Northern Viking has been guarding the export cable laydown point, south of Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm.
• Fleur de Lys is currently standing by in Alexandra Dock.
• Normand Tonjer has continued diving operations and installed some pull-in frames ready for cable installation.  The vessel is currently alongside the load out berth at base harbour, Birkenhead.
• Seatruck Pace continued deliveries of wind turbine generator parts to Mostyn.
• Polar Prince has completed trials at Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm and is currently alongside at Cammell Laird shipyard, Birkenhead.
• Whalsa Lass and support vessels continued installation of CTV pontoon at Base Harbour, Birkenhead.

Work planned for next 7 days

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

• Friederich Ernestine is to continue the construction operations at turbine location H19F.
• Tremadoc Bay, Colwyn Bay, Kinmel Bay, Penryn Bay, Penhros Bay, Caernarfon Bay, Gardian, Gaillion, Chinook and Scirocco will be utilised as Crew Transfer / Stand by vessels running out of Liverpool Marina and Canada Dock, Liverpool.
• Normand Tonjer will continue diving operations including work with the Polar Prince to aid installation of array cables.
• Northern Viking will continue to guard the export cable south of Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm.
• Fleur de Lys will continue with Marine Mammal Observeration duties.
• Polar Prince will commence cable laying operations at Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm.
• Whalsa Lass and support vessels will continue installation of CTV pontoon at Base Harbour, Birkenhead.

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.