First Subsea to Protect Hollandse Kust (zuid) Grid Link

Van Oord-Cablel Hellenic Cables consortium has awarded First Subsea with a contract to supply a cable protection system (CPS) for the Hollandse Kust (zuid) export cables, and a cross over protection for TenneT’s Net op zee Hollandse Kust (zuid).

Under the contract, First Subsea will engineer, test, and supply a CPS for the protection of the 220kV export cables and the 66kV interlink cable between the J-tube at the Hollandse Kust (zuid) Alpha and Beta offshore substations. The platforms will be of a jacket design and J-tubes will be used to guide and protect the export cables entering the platforms.

The CPS has been designed to ensure the power cables are protected against vortex-induced vibrations, instability due to waves and currents, touchdown protection, edge scour, abrasion, improved cable fatigue performance, optimised installation and simple disconnection should it be required, First Subsea said.

The scope of work also includes crossing protection for four submarine power cables which will each cross three pipelines. A total of twelve pipeline crossings will be supplied and installed by the consortium. The crossing designs consist of a CPS, which will be designed and supplied by First Subsea.

The Van Oord-Cablel Hellenic Cables consortium is in charge of connecting the Hollandse Kust (zuid) Alpha and Beta offshore platforms to the Dutch onshore grid.

The scope of work for the consortium for the 700MW Alpha project covers the design, the manufacture of 220kV cables, the cable-laying operation, and connecting the wind farm to the Maasvlakte high-voltage station.

The 42-kilometre-long connection will run from the Alpha substation to the onshore station located at the Maasvlakte 2 area, Rotterdam.

The Van Oord-Hellenic Cables consortium will also deliver and install cables for the Hollandse Kust (South) Beta project. This assignment includes manufacturing and laying a 66kV marine cable between the Alpha and Beta platforms. The Hollandse Kust (South) Alpha grid connection must be ready by 2021, and Beta in 2022.