Offshore staff
ABERDEEN, UK – Alpha, a Sparrows Group company, has received a contract to undertake turbine platform modifications in support of a new walk-to-work system at an undisclosed wind farm offshore the UK.
An integrated team from Alpha and Sparrows will manufacture and install push-on plates, access gates, and handrails to 88 turbine platforms as well as the A-deck platforms on each of its two substations. Once completed, the modifications will enable motion compensated gangways from offshore support vessels to be safely connected to the platforms, allowing maintenance technicians to walk directly from the vessel to the turbine.
According to the company, the new access system will deliver a safer method of personnel transfer while eliminating the requirement for crew transfer vessels, thereby reducing CO2 emissions.
Sparrows Group CEO Stewart Mitchell said: “As the number of wind farms in the UK increase and developments move further from shore, walk-to-work systems utilizing support vessels are becoming increasingly popular over crew transfer vessels, which involve taking trips to the field from the shore every day. It allows technicians to be accommodated on board the vessel and remain in the field to complete a campaign, negating lengthy daily transit times and maximizing efficiency.”
Manufacturing activities are underway at the company’s facility in Aberdeen, with installation on-site at the wind farm scheduled to take place later this year.
07/14/2021
