DEME’s vessel Orion has begun the installation of the jacket foundation for the Hollandse Kust West Alpha platform in the Dutch sector of the North Sea.
The jacket set sail from the Port of Vlissingen to the offshore construction site on 14 August, a few weeks after the load out at the Heerema Fabrication Group yard.
The jacket has been transported to its designated location about 50 kilometres off the coast of Egmond aan Zee, where Orion will lift the jacket and place it on the seabed.
The jacket will then be secured by four piles that are driven more than 50 meteres into the seabed. The piles are installed through large 10-metre tubes that are connected to the feet of the jacket. Filling the space between the piles and the tubes with cement will reinforce the connection in such a way that the platform can withstand even the heaviest storm in the North Sea, according to TenneT.
Prior to installation, a large bed of stones was placed on the seabed to create a firm and flat foundation and ensure that the bottom under the jacket is not washed away by the flow of seawater.
With regular maintenance, the structure has a minimum lifespan of 40 years, the company said.
The topside for the Hollandse Kust West Alpha platform will be installed on top of the jacket next year.
The platform will be ready for operation from 2024, from when it will be able to connect 700 MW of offshore wind capacity to the Dutch grid.
The jacket foundation was built by Heerema Fabrication Group in Vlissingen on behalf of Smulders and Equans, suppliers of all platforms for the Hollandse Kust Noord, West Alpha, and West Beta projects.