A quadrant handling system designed and built by Osbit for offshore contractor DeepOcean has successfully completed its first inter array cable installation job at an unnamed offshore wind farm off England’s east coast.
Although Osbit did not reveal the name of the wind farm at which Maersk Recorder used the quadrant handling system, it is highly likely that the vessel was working on DONG Energy’s 580MW Race Bank offshore wind farm, currently under construction some 17 miles off Blakeney Point on the North Norfolk coast.
The system has facilitated the laying of two complete cables per day in the first stage of its deployment from the Maersk Recorder, according to Osbit.
Osbit modified its existing system to fit an entirely new deck layout, incorporating operator-owned equipment alongside its own. The company also upgraded its equipment to add additional functionality, including the addition of two new stern chutes and associated grillages. A novel quadrant handling A-Frame was also integrated, to streamline the most complex handling operation throughout the whole lay cycle, Osbit said.
These changes helped to support the safe and effective 1st and 2nd end deployment of the subsea quadrant, as it installed the offshore wind farm inter array cables, according to Osbit.
Brendon Hayward, Managing Director of Osbit, said: “We continue to focus on developing new, technology-led solutions to support contractor operations in the construction of offshore wind farms. The success of this project highlights the effectiveness of our collaborative, objective-driven approach, which ensures that our systems achieve efficient and productive offshore operations.”
Osbit’s design also allows the system’s cable production units to be assembled offline on the system while it carries out laying operations, maximising technician productivity on board the vessel.
Pierre Boyde, Commercial Director at DeepOcean, said: “Osbit’s understanding of our requirements and its engineers’ expertise has produced one of the most advanced quadrant handling systems on the market. The system gives DeepOcean an advantage over our competitors in multiple key areas, including speed, and personnel and product safety.”