Statkraft has entered into an initial six month charter agreement, with a longer-term extension option, to use the WaveCraft, operated by Tidal Transit, to transport its O&M turbine technicians into its Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm field.
The 317MW Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm is located from 9-17 miles off the coast of North Norfolk in the southern North Sea, and Umoe Firmus will operate from the port of Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk where the wind farm’s O&M base is located.
Tidal Transit Commercial Director Leo Hambro said: “By the time Umoe Firmus goes into service in February 2016, the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm will have been fully operational for over three years.
“During that time it has used a variety of vessels operating from the Outer Harbour at Wells-next-the-Sea to access the wind farm field, including 3 of our own Personnel Transfer Vessels, so Statkraft will be able to compare the WaveCraft’s performance with its considerable vessel data and experience to date.”
Later this year Tidal Transit crews will be undergoing operational training on the WaveCraft vessel which is being used at the Borkum Riffgrund Wind Farm off the coast of Germany.