SAL Offshore has published a video which provides great insight into an example of a prototype tidal turbine installation. Filmed in September 2013 the video shows the first time the Voith turbine is deployed in the turbulent tidal conditions at EMEC’s tidal test site at the Fall of Warness, off Eday.
The video begins in Stavanger in Norway where the MV Lone, the dynamic positioning (DP) vessel used for the installation of Voith’s Hytide 1000-13 tidal turbine, mobilises the ROV spread and project equipment. The vessel then sails to Hatston Pier in Kirkwall to load a Launch And Recovery System (LARS) for the turbine. After conducting a HIRA (Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment) with all involved parties and a function test of the equipment, the MV Lone departs Hatston Pier for EMEC’s tidal test site to conduct DP trials and ultimately install the turbine.
The installation process requires the MV Lone, supported by local vessels Scotmarine and Voe Viking, to lift the tidal turbine from its transportation cradle on a barge and place it on the pre-installed foundation.
Securely installed in the foundation the turbine blades are some 14 metres below sea level.
[mappress]
February 14, 2014