Fugro has been awarded a contract by 50Hertz to deliver unexploded ordnance (UXO) survey, identification and clearance services for the LanWin3 and LanWin6 offshore grid connection projects in the German sector of the North Sea.
By identifying and addressing potential hazards, the work will help 50Hertz prepare the routes for the safe installation of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables connecting offshore wind farms to Germany’s electricity network.
LanWin3 and LanWin6 form part of Germany’s ongoing expansion of its offshore wind energy infrastructure. Once completed, each grid connection is designed to transmit up to 2 GW of offshore wind power, providing a combined transmission capacity of 4 GW and helping bring more renewable electricity from the North Sea into the national grid to build energy security and meet climate targets.
With an estimated 1.3 million tonnes of unexploded munitions remaining in marine environments worldwide, thorough UXO survey and clearance activities play a critical role in enabling the safe development of offshore infrastructure.
Starting in the second quarter of 2027, the UXO survey will cover 200 metre-wide corridors along the LanWin3 and LanWin6 routes.
The work will be carried out using two Geowing® systems, Fugro's fixed magnetic gradiometer arrays, each fitted with ten magnetic sensors to detect potential UXO and other objects on or beneath the seabed.
The survey will provide the Geo-data needed to map potential targets and create a master target list for further investigation.
Follow-on inspection and identification activities will take place in 2028, using remotely operated vehicle technology and specialist detection systems to investigate selected targets and remove debris where required.
Fugro will also support the safe removal and disposal of any confirmed UXO in accordance with regulatory requirements, helping prepare the cable corridors for installation.
"On a project of this scale, the challenge is that the number and nature of potential UXO can only be known once the survey is complete. Building a reliable picture of the seabed at an early stage will allow 50Hertz to plan the next steps with greater certainty and manage safety throughout the cable installation programme."