VBMS completed the installation of two 16 kilometer-long 150kV HVAC cables for the Rampion offshore wind farm last week.
To overcome some environmental challenges in the shallow water, VBMS had to extend the pre-installed landfall HDD’s with duct extensions of approximately 480 meters each.
VBMS utilized Boskalis’ backhoe dredger Manu Pekka to dredge the trenches before installing the duct extensions. In addition, Boskalis dredged three flotation pits per cable routing to allow CLV Stemat Spirit to reach the location of the end of the ducts.
Following the cable pull-in CLV Stemat Spirit jumped from pit to pit during high tides while laying the cable until it reached deeper water where it could safely remain afloat and resume the remaining cable laying operations, the company explained.
The 400 megawatt project is being built 13 kilometers off the coast of Sussex and is a joint venture between E.ON, the British Green Investment Bank and Canadian energy producer, Enbridge.
Once completed, the wind farm will produce enough energy each year to supply roughly 350,000 households. The wind farm is scheduled to be finished and ready for operation in 2018.