Bang-Up Job Done on Pioneering Offshore Wind Project

The companies that installed an innovative foundation on DONG Energy’s Borkum Riffgrund 1 offshore wind farm can mark another great milestone for their businesses after the first offshore wind Suction Bucket Jacket stands at its position.

GeoSea carried out the floating load out, transport and installation, while the suction process was done by SPT Offshore. Armour stones will be installed soon by GeoSea’s sister company Tideway.

The installation vessel Pacific Orca, supplied by DONG Energy, is currently demobilizing in Eemshaven.

After installing 77 monopile foundations for Borkum Riffgrund 1 at the end of July, the Pacific Orca demobilized at BOW Terminal and mobilized for the job on the 78th foundation, the suction bucket jacket.

The suction bucket jacket design consists of three legs welded together in a jacket structure, standing on top of three giant suction buckets anchoring the foundation to the seabed. It is a lightweight structure that only requires a single operation when the foundation is installed offshore, reducing the time of the installation and hence contributing to lowering the costs of electricity from offshore wind.

When fully operational in 2015, Borkum Riffgrund 1 will be able to supply green power corresponding to the annual consumption of approximately 320,000 German households.