Van Oord’s offshore installation vessel MPI Resolution has started a blade repair and upgrade campaign at the Princess Amalia offshore wind farm in the Netherlands.
MPI Offshore, a subsidiary of Van Oord, has won a contract to repair and upgrade all the blades for 29 out of the 60 turbines at the 120MW wind farm.
According to Van Oord, MPI Resolution offers the possibility to repair and upgrade damaged blades on board the vessel while remaining within the wind farm.
The vessel sails to the site location with three repaired and/or new blades. The damaged blades are replaced by another blade and brought back on board, where they are repaired and upgraded.
The repair consists of applying shells that are glued to the blades, and when finished, they are installed at the next location.
Van Oord expects that the new blades can last until the end of the expected life of the wind farm. After the campaign, MPI Resolution will continue its five-year maintenance work for major components exchange at the project.
Princess Amalia, also known as Prinses Amaliawindpark, consists of 60 2MW Vestas turbines located 23km off the coast of Ijmuiden. The 120MW wind farm has been operational since 2008.