Rix Sea Shuttle Assists in Gwynt y Môr Cabling

SHIP operator Rix Sea Shuttle has netted a contract at one of Europe’s largest offshore wind farms.

The company was awarded the work by Reef Subsea to support their two cable installation vessels at the RWE Innogy Gwynt y Môr development.

Gwynt y Môr is one of the largest offshore wind farms currently under construction in Europe and once completed, will consist of 160 turbines with the combined capacity of 576MW – enough energy to power around 400,000 homes.

It is situated off the North Wales coast and is forecast to be finished by the end of this year.

Reef Subsea has employed two Rix Sea Shuttle crew support boats – the Panther and the Tiger – to aid cable installations vessels Polar Prince and Polar King.

James Doyle, managing director of Rix Sea Shuttle said: “The two vessels we have supplied will be used to take engineers and technicians to and from individual wind turbines to support both first end and second end pull-in operations.

“One will operate 24/7 while the other will provides daytime support, then they will reverse roles to ensure the crews are properly rested.”

Anthony Michelin, project director at Reef Subsea, said the company appointed Rix Sea Shuttle because of its experience in the shipping industry and a high level of professionalism.

Mr Michelin said: “Although Rix Sea Shuttle is a new company it is part of a group which was founded more than a century ago on the marine industry and as such, contains a lot of the experience and knowledge we were looking for.”

Press Release, April 29, 2014; Image: rix