Global Offshore Deploys New Gear on Kriegers Flak

Global Offshore has completed the first phase of work at Vattenfall’s Kriegers Flak offshore wind farm site utilising the new multi-function pre-lay plough.

Mobilised on the Havila Jupiter, the PLP240 began boulder clearance on the site in the Danish Baltic Sea in April, following testing on a directly comparable set of seabed conditions close by.

Overall 72 routes have been completed, totalling approximately 158 kilometres, supported by the Global Symphony and Normand Clipper undertaking boulder picking in the densely populated boulder fields.

Mike Daniel, Managing Director of Global Offshore said: “We invested heavily in the very best upfront engineering for our PLP240 and had every confidence that the trials would evidence what we already knew to be true about the new asset. But it’s not until the tool hit the seabed, began route clearance, and was tested in each mode that its capabilities were really proven.”

Commissioned from and designed in collaboration with Osbit Limited, with delivery to coincide with the Kriegers Flak project commencement, the plough is said to minimise the operational risk and total time required to install subsea cables.

“The seabed conditions that we’ve seen here in the Baltic Sea are likely to be some of the most extreme that we’d ever work in, so it has put the PLP240 to the ultimate stress test and we’re proud to say that it’s passed with flying colours,” Daniel said.

With route preparation works complete, the Global Offshore team is now focused on the next phase of the project, cable lay.

This is to be completed by the Normand Clipper, which has been recently mobilised and upgraded for power cable work. This will be followed up with cable burial utilising a combination of jetting with the Q1400 trencher, and in the areas of harder, more consolidated soil, the PLP240 in backfill mode to provide necessary cover and protection.

Lazaros Theodoridis, Cable Installation Package Manager at Vattenfall, said: “With the current climate, there have been several moving elements across the wider wind farm site over the last few months. Not only have Global Offshore and the PLP240 performed route clearance as we’d hoped in a difficult environment, they have also shown flexibility and professionalism in their operations, working alongside other ongoing site operations and contractors, and continuing to work safely throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Located 15-40 kilometres offshore, the 604.8 MW Kriegers Flak will comprise 72 Siemens Gamesa 8.4 MW wind turbines installed on monopile foundations.

The Havila Jupiter and PLP240 will shortly begin work on Kincardine, where the team will complete route preparation and boulder clearance at the 50 MW floating offshore wind site off Scotland.