First monopile, transition piece in place at North Sea EAST Anglia THREE wind farm

The Seaway Ventus jackup vessel has installed the first monopile for ScottishPower Renewables’ East Anglia THREE wind farm in the UK southern North Sea.

The 83.89-m tall, 10.6-m diameter structure, which weighs 1,800 metric tons, was also the largest installed so far from a jackup vessel offshore Europe, ScottishPower claimed.

It is one of 95 monopile foundations under construction for the 1.4-GW development. JVNW is fabricating 45 of these, and Haizea the remaining 50, to support 95 x 14.7-MW Siemens Gamesa turbines generating 1,400 MW in total.

Monopile lengths will vary from 67-85 m, with weights between 1,200 and 1,800 metric tons.

Also installed is the first of 95 transition pieces, all to be supplied by Windar Renovables; each will be 20 m high and 8 m in diameter, with a weight more than 400 mt.

To set down the monopiles and transition pieces, Seaway Ventus has a customized equipment spread that was designed, built and installed in under two years. All 95 turbines should be in place offshore by early 2026.

In addition, ScottishPower has signed charter agreements with NR Marine Services and OEG, both based on the coast of Norfolk, eastern England, for vessels to support the construction program, all operating from the Port of Lowestoft.

NR Marine Services will provide the NR Rebellion and NR Hunter crew transfer vessels, with the Typhoon Class Rebellion already in operation, followed later in the year by the Storm Class Hunter.

Rebellion, built by Diverse Marine in the Isle of Wight, is a 25-m hybrid vessel with a service speed of 26 knots, a range of 1,000 nautical miles and capacity to transfer up to 24 personnel to the East Anglia THREE construction site.

OEG’s support vessel Tess will perform guard duties at the offshore development site. It is designed to remain out at sea for longer periods.