Geoquip Saentis Kicks Off Vineyard Wind Surveys

Geoquip Marine’s vessel Geoquip Saentis has arrived at Vineyard Wind’s 501 North Federal Lease Area offshore Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts to start a geotechnical survey campaign.

The site will be the eventual location of the 804 MW Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind farm.

Using two separate vessels, Geoquip Marine will gather information on the ground conditions for prospective turbine and substation locations, providing necessary data to the project design.

“Getting to this step would have been a milestone under normal circumstances,” said Lars Pedersen, CEO of Vineyard Wind.

“But to do so now in light of the current pandemic makes reaching this point all the more significant and rewarding. We look forward to working with Geoquip as we begin to gather the data necessary to get the first largescale offshore wind project in the United States up and running.”

The survey work will be done in two phases, with the first slated to begin in late May and the second to begin in late July. Work is expected to finish by September this year.

Geoquip’s first engagement with Vineyard in 2018 was for a similar geotechnical scope.

“In order to ensure a timely delivery of Vineyard Wind having geotechnical data as early as possible is key to success. We are very pleased that Geoquip once again has agreed to support us,” said Rasmus Miller, EPC director of Vineyard Wind.

The crews are all following enhanced safety precautions to limit any and all exposure to COVID-19, including health and temperature checks prior and during the survey, strict on-boarding procedure, enhanced separation in addition to extensive cleaning and sanitation on each vessel, Vineyard Wind said.

“Leading offshore geotechnical survey company Geoquip Marine is proud to be returning once more to Martha’s Vineyard to assist with this survey,” said Stewart Higginson CEO of Geoquip Marine.

“We can’t wait to bring our expertise to a project that has such tremendous potential to lower energy costs and drastically cut harmful carbon emissions.”

The Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind farm will comprise 84 MHI Vestas 9.5 MW wind turbines sited approximately 14 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and 35 miles off the coast of the Massachusetts mainland.

Vineyard Wind LLC, a 50-50 joint venture company of Avangrid Renewables and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, is developing the project.