Heerema Marine Contractors will deploy Sleipnir , the world’s largest crane vessel, on the 450 MW Neart na Gaoithe wind farm offshore Scotland in the coming weeks.
Sleipnir, together with Wagenborg’s barge, Wagenborg 7 , and two tugs, Pacific Discovery and Multratug 3 , will be in charge of transporting and installing the wind farm’s two offshore substations, including the three-legged jacket foundations and the topsides .
The work is due to begin on 12 May at the earliest, Neart na Gaoithe Offshore Wind Farm Limited (NnGOWL) said.
The offshore substation jackets will be brought to the site and installed by Sleipnir. Once the jackets are secured in location, the South OSS topside will be installed by Sleipnir. The North OSS topside is to be installed at a later date.
The South OSS topside will be brought to the site using Wagenborg 7 and the two tugs.
It is anticipated that the installation of the jacket foundations will be completed by the end of May, weather dependent. This will be followed by the installation of the South OSS topside.
The commissioning of the substation is due to begin in early June and will continue throughout the Summer of 2022.
Jointly owned by EDF Renewables and ESB and under construction 15 kilometres off the coast of Fife, Neart na Gaoithe will comprise 54 Siemens Gamesa 8 MW wind turbines.
The 450 MW wind farm is scheduled to be fully commissioned in 2024.