DEME’s Vessel Orion Completes Offshore Foundation Installation Project

DEME’s flagship Orion completed monopile installation works on Ocean Winds’ Moray West offshore wind farm project in Scotland. Despite harsh winter conditions, DEME swiftly installed 29 monopiles in approximately two months. Meanwhile, DEME’s DP2 jack-up vessel Apollo is installing the transition pieces.

The Moray West offshore wind farm, developed by Ocean Winds in Scotland's Moray Firth, will generate 882 MW, powering over 1.3 million homes. A key industry milestone has been delivered by DEME installing the first complete foundations for near 15 MW turbines. Dedicated novel tools were deployed such as a Quad Vibro Hammer and pioneering bolting equipment for M90 bolts.

Progress Despite Conditions

Orion transported the 29 monopiles, which weigh up to 2,000 tons each, from the port of Invergordon and installed them in full DP mode, without the use of anchors. Orion’s specially designed and high-tech motion compensated pile gripper, in combination with its 5,000-ton crane and vessel ballasting techniques, enabled efficient operations despite the notorious Scottish winter weather conditions.

Innovative Technology

The Vibro Hammer was used to overcome the risks of pile-runs, due to the combination of soft and hard soil layers. Afterwards the piles were hammered to the target depth with a hydraulic Impact Hammer. DEME’s jack-up vessel Apollo is performing the transition piece installation which is expected to be finalized in the coming months. This efficient way of working accelerated and de-risked the schedule of the project which has a very limited installation period.

On Its Way

Meanwhile Orion has started its voyage across the Atlantic Ocean back to the United States, heading to its next project in Virginia.

Jan Klaassen, Business Unit Director Americas at DEME Offshore, says: “I am looking forward to welcoming Orion back in the US, this time in the great Commonwealth of Virginia. The Orion is scheduled to arrive in the Port of Norfolk, Virginia in late April where she will prepare for the installation of 176 foundations on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project for our client Dominion Energy. The combined technology of the Vibro Hammer and Impact Hammer will also be used on the CVOW project, in combination with state-of-the-art noise mitigation technologies to protect marine mammals.”