Vroon Offshore Services and Rhenus Offshore Logistics B.V. have been working together on a maintenance campaign at two offshore substations on the 600MW Gemini offshore wind farm in the Dutch North Sea.
VOS Prime, a multi-role platform supply vessel (PSV) with SPS notation for 52 persons on board, mobilised an Ampelmann A-type gangway system and has been engaged in walk-to-work operations since the end of June 2017.
VOS Prime has provided work and residential accommodation for a project team of 40 Rhenus staff, in addition to the regular vessel crew of 20.
A total of 934 transfers of personnel have been completed between VOS Prime and the substations, Vroon said. Providing on-board accommodation eliminated the need for Rhenus to arrange daily round trips from Eemshaven for employees.
VOS Prime will now continue to operate in the Southern North Sea renewable sector in this walk-to-work set up, according to Vroon.
A second platform-supply vessel, VOS Prelude, also contributed to the project. Operating from Emden she has delivered supplies of food, drinks and, tools, and taken care of waste disposal.
Vroon and Rhenus have increased their cooperation within the offshore wind industry over recent months.
“The first project went very well. While Rhenus handled central management of the project, Vroon was a reliable and committed partner at our side,” said Jannik Hartfil, Business Development Manager at Rhenus Offshore Logistics Niederlande.
The Gemini offshore wind farm was officially opened in early May 2017.
The wind farm is situated 85 kilometres north of the Groningen coast and comprises 150 Siemens 4MW turbines and two offshore substations – Buitengaats and ZeeEnergie.