SAL Completes Wikinger Pile Testing Campaign

SAL Heavy Lift completed the second phase of the Wikinger Pile Testing Campaign with DP II Class vessel MV Lone.

The full test campaign comprised two phases with the tests being performed at three locations. During the first phase in November 2014 three sets of three piles each were driven at designated locations to required depths.

The second phase was to undertake restrike and pull out tests on selected piles within the three locations. The results of the test have to be analysed with a view to optimize the pile design for the foundations of the planned wind farm considering the given soil conditions. As with the previous phase the vessel was fully manned with specialists and mariners all with the sole aim of bringing the work to a successful conclusion.

Some challenges were encountered during the work. One of the major problems was to manage the inclement weather and making best use of the available windows. MV Lone was able to rapidly get from and to the various test sites in anticipation of a favorable, albeit perhaps short weather window.

This did help to limit time loss as well as it confirmed once again the value to the client of using a DP Class II vessel. The second phase was completed to the satisfaction of all early January 2015 with completion of the final demobilization of the vessel.

Located 30 km off the island of Rügen in the Baltic Sea and covering an area of 34 km2, the Wikinger offshore wind farm project will consist of 70 wind turbines with a total capacity of up to 350 MW. The Spanish energy company Iberdrola is developing the project, scheduled to begin operations in 2017.

Video: Pre-Piling Test for Wikinger OWF