Pacific Orca has arrived at PD Ports’ newly redeveloped £35 million quay at Teesport, where it will be berthed at Number One Quay for several weeks while being fitted with a pile gripper that has been constructed on site.
The vessel, owned by Swire Blue Ocean, will then sail away to the Rampion offshore wind farm site to work on foundation installation.
David Robinson , PD Ports’ CEO said: “Pacific Orca is a sight to behold. Our Number One Quay has only just been declared open for business and one of the biggest wind farm installation vessels in the world is berthed there already.”
PD Ports said the quay has been significantly strengthened so it can now take loads of 10 tonnes per square metre, therefore making it suitable for the mobilisation of wind farm installation vessels.
The 400MW Rampion offshore wind farm will comprise 116 MHI Vestas’ 3.45MW wind turbines. The project, being built by E.ON, the UK Green Investment Bank and Enbridge 13km off the Sussex coast between Brighton and Lancing, is set to become the first offshore wind farm off the south coast of England.