VBMS Confirms Aberdeen Gig

VBMS has officially confirmed that it will be in charge of installing inter-array and export cables for the 92.4MW European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC), being developed by Sweden’s Vattenfall off Aberdeen, Scotland.

Royal Boskalis Westminster, the parent company of VBMS, and Vattenfall signed the Offshore Balance of Plant contract for the construction of EOWDC last week.

The contract, valued in excess of EUR 100 million, includes all offshore elements of the wind farm, with the exception of the wind turbine supply.

The 11-turbine wind farm is located approximately 3 kilometers off the coast of Aberdeen.

The scope of the activities for Boskalis includes the design, procurement, fabrication, supply, transportation and installation of eleven suction bucket jacket foundations and scour protection, the procurement, supply, transportation and installation of 66kV inter-array and export cables by Boskalis subsidiary VBMS and the provision of the wind turbine transportation and installation vessel.

The offshore project execution is scheduled to commence in September 2017.

The foundations and cables will be transported and installed with own assets including a fallpipe vessel, transport barges, a large floating sheerleg crane and a cable laying vessel.

The installation of the wind turbines, for which MHI Vestas Offshore was selected as the preferred supplier, will be carried out with an installation vessel supplied by Boskalis. Completion of the project is expected in the second quarter of 2018.

Vattenfall made the Final Investment Decision for the wind farm on 21 July, 2016.