Gwynt y Môr Windfarm: Weekly Progress Report, 8th April 2013

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Jim Andrews

This is a summary of the weekly notice of operations for the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Windfarm issued on 8th April 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: 63 installed, 97 remaining
  • Export cables: 1st cable (East) laid, due to be joined from 1st April 2013 (see notice here).  2nd cable (East) due to be laid from 1st April 2013 (see notice here).
  • Array cables: H13G – J12G installed; laying sequence will continue.

Navigation Hazards

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

  • Unlit objects – there are presently 9 unlit monopiles within the windfarm boundary.  Information about these hazards can be accessed here.
  • Exposed monopiles – there are currently 17 exposed monopiles, which may be submerged at certain states of tide.  Advice about exposed monopiles is given 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 has been continuing with drill, drive and transition piece installation.  Friederich Ernestine is currently relocating from J17F to F14E.
  • Cable Enterprise and support vessels commenced work installing export cable 2 at Pensarn Beach.
  • Penrhos Bay, Penrhyn Bay, Caernarfon Bay, Gardian, Gaillion, Chinook and Scirocco utilised as Crew Transfer Vessels when required and sailed from Liverpool Marina and Canada Dock 3.  Emergency rescue teams embarked on relevant CTVs
  • Colwyn Bay and Kinmel Bay utilised as Crew Transfer / Stand by vessel as required and based at Liverpool Marina.
  • Isadale continued to guard the export cable south of Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm and has now been replaced by Northern Viking.
  • Fleur de Lys has been utilised for MMO piling duties, and has since departed for Whitehaven.
  • Normand Tonjer has continued diving operations and has assisted Polar Prince when required for cable pulling operations.
  • Terramare 1 recommenced diving operations at the wind farm.
  • Seatruck Pace continued deliveries of wind turbine generator parts to Mostyn.
  • Polar Prince has been carrying out inter-array cable installation.
  • Construction of the CTV pontoon at Base Harbour, Birkenhead has been completed and final commissioning is now taking place.

Work planned for next 7 days

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

  • Friederich Ernestine will continue drill, drive and TP installation at F14E and is due to return to Cammell Laird Wet Basin on Tuesday 9th April.
  • Cable Enterprise and support vessels will continue laying export cable 2 (see our previous notice here).
  • Stemat 89 and support vessels will arrive at Gwynt y Môr to commence export cable joint repair (see our previous notice here).
  • Sea Jack turbine installation vessel is expected to arrive on 13th April 2013 (see our previous notice here).
  • 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 / guard duties as required.
  • Polar Prince will continue with 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.

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.
    • 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.
    • Seatruck Pace will be arriving & departing on a regular basis delivering turbine components.
    • Sea Jack turbine installation vessel will be arriving & departing on a regular basis to collect turbine components.
  • Liverpool marina / Cammell Lairds wet basin / Canada Dock
    • Tremadoc Bay, Colwyn Bay, Kinmel Bay, Penrhyn Bay, Penrhos Bay, Malltraeth Bay, Caernarfon Bay, Gardian, Gaillion, 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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