Boskalis secures contract for Moray West offshore wind project

Dutch dredging and offshore contractor Boskalis said today it has been awarded a “sizable” contract for the 882-MW Moray West offshore wind project in Scotland by Ocean Winds, a joint venture between EDP Renovaveis SA (ELI:EDPR) and Engie SA (EPA:ENGI).

Under the contract, falling into the value range of EUR 50 million (USD 53m) to EUR 150 million, Boskalis will carry out a number of activities in the next 12 months.

Located in the Moray Firth, the wind project will be made up of 60 turbines of 14.7 MW and two substations that will all be installed on monopile foundations at a water depth of up to 54 metres (177 ft). Given the size of the turbines and the water depth, the project will need large XXL monopiles.

Boskalis said it will transport a large number of the monopiles from the Far East to the port of Invergordon, near the project site, using the heavy transport vessel White Marlin.

Before the installation of the foundations, the contractor will perform seabed preparations by installing a layer of rock that will serve as a filter and scour protection for the monopiles. It will then deploy its DP crane vessel Bokalift 2 for the installation campaign. The ship features a 4,000-tonne crane and a new upending hinge and motion-compensated pile gripper. Boskalis will use a very large impact hammer and a vibro-hammer for the project. It will also be responsible for the installation of two substations with their transition pieces.

Boskalis said it already carried out an offshore geophysical site survey for the project.

Belgian marine contractor DEME is also involved in the project, having reported recently that it will be installing monopile foundations and transition pieces for Moray West.

(EUR 1 = USD 1.055)

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