IHC IQIP Delivers New 1,400t Upending Tool to Seaway Heavy Lifting
Friday 22 April 2016
Seaway Heavy Lifting (SHL) has selected IHC IQIP to provide piling and handling equipment for its operations at the Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm project in the UK. SHL’s main responsibilities cover the storage, transportation and installation of 67 monopiles, transition pieces, and an offshore substation (OSS) consisting of a jacket and topside. This continues the excellent relationship between IHC IQIP and SHL, which spans a variety of projects over 25 years.
“We are delighted that our partnership with IHC remains as strong as ever,” says SHL Project Manager Tom de Haan. “Thanks to its innovative and proven technology, we are confident that the risk of any breakdown during the project is minimised.”
IHC IQIP has delivered state-of-the-art equipment to SHL, including a 1,400t UET (upending tool) for use on board the Royal IHC-built HLV OLEG STRASHNOV. This offers the highest possible capacity for monopiles up to 1,400t, and utilises a fail-safe lifting principle, which ensures a safe working environment during upending and handling operations. Its design is based on the proven technology of IHC IQIP’s existing 1,000t upending tool. An S-3000 Hydrohammer has also been chosen by SHL for use on board.
SHL has been awarded the contract for the foundation and substation installation by Dudgeon Offshore Wind Limited (owned by Statoil ASA, Statkraft and Masdar). The site lies off the Norfolk coast, to the north of the Sheringham Shoal Wind Farm where SHL completed the installation of other foundations and substation topsides in 2011.
A total of 67 turbines, and a single 1,800t OSS will be installed at the site and provide power to more than 410,000 homes. The monopiles will vary in size from 60-78 metres in length and 600-1,000t in weight. The project has already begun positively, and the first 10 monopiles have been installed on schedule by the OLEG STRASHNOV Installation work is expected to be completed by August 2016.