UK-based Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) recently delivered a purpose built pre-lay plough to marine service providers Boskalis.
Boskalis will utilise the plough at Ørsted’s offshore wind farm Hornsea Two to install 380 kilometres of export cables.
The pre lay plough, named Megalodon by Boskalis, will benefit from features such as an active steering, multi modes, specialized share design and remote-control access.
Paul Davison , managing director of SMD said:
“This is our third pre-lay plough delivered to date.
“Together with the Boskalis innovation team we have developed innovations for this plough which reduce seabed impact and reduce vessel fuel consumption whilst burying to protect the crucial offshore wind infrastructure that is the export cable.”
The Megalodon operates in up to 500 metres water depth and will be used on Boskalis’ vessel BOKA Falcon .
Starting May this year, Boskalis is working alongside Ørsted to complete cable-laying campaigns for 2020 within six months.
Steve Marshall , Boskalis project director for Hornsea Two, said:
“Boskalis wants to stimulate the local supply chain, not only by purchasing locally but also innovating and collaborating towards achieving the best possible end result.”
Expected for completion in 2022, Hornsea Two’s wind farm array covers an area of 462 square kilometres.
Once complete, Hornsea Two will host an array of 165 wind turbines, each standing over 190 metres above sea level.
The world’s largest generating windfarm 1.4GW, should power well over 1.3 million homes in the UK.