Member Article

North East engineering firm completes project on 'world’s most advanced offshore wind farm'

Osbit Ltd, the offshore engineering and technology company, has completed its first project for Seajacks with the delivery of a bespoke access system for the world’s most advanced offshore wind farm installation and maintenance vessel, Seajacks Scylla.

The gangway, which is now in operation aboard the Seajacks Scylla, has been deployed to the DONG Energy Walney Extension Offshore wind farm development in the Irish Sea, off the west coast of England. Once fully completed in late 2018, the offshore wind farm will become the world’s largest at 659MW – capable of powering more than 500,000 homes.

Providing access from the vessel to turbine transition pieces, the telescopic, variable height gangway is a new addition to Osbit’s existing offshore access capability and has been specially-designed to suit Seajacks’ requirements.

Extending up to a distance of 35 metres, the gangway has a wider than usual operational height capability of between -45 degrees and +15 degrees to ensure it is not restricted by the jack-up vessel’s height. The Scylla jack up vessel is fitted with 105 metre-long legs, which have the ability to install components in water depths of up to 65 metres.

Certified by DNV GL to its personnel transfer offshore gangway standard, the gangway is deployed using a dedicated auxiliary crane, which enables the vessel’s 1,500 tonne leg encircling crane to focus on installation operations.

Designed at its Riding Mill office and assembled at its Port of Blyth base in the North East of England, Northumberland-based Osbit completed the project within its 18-week schedule. The gangway was road transported from the Port of Blyth to Holland, where the vessel was mobilised.

Osbit engineers oversaw the system’s delivery, installation & commissioning and also provided training on its operation and maintenance to vessel crews.

Brendon Hayward, Managing Director of Osbit Ltd, said: “We’re delighted to work with Seajacks, in this exciting project which further expands our presence in the offshore access solutions market and demonstrates our capability to diversify and adapt our solutions to meet the cost savings and efficiency improvements required by our clients.

“Collaborating closely with Seajacks, our bespoke gangway is designed to provide a wide scope of height deployment, which will prevent operational downtime and enable seamless integration into its landmark vessel’s extensive jack-up capabilities.”

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