Wind Energy – Arcadis Ost 1
DEME Offshore has successfully installed the first XXL monopile at Parkwind’s Arcadis Ost 1 offshore wind farm in Germany.
The Orion, equipped with a 5,000-tonne crane and a tailor-made, motion compensated gripper system, is the first floating monohulled vessel able to perform these operations, speeding up installation times dramatically.
DEME’s revolutionary, floating DP3 offshore installation vessel is set to install the 28 giant monopiles, which at 110 long are the largest monopile foundations ever built in Europe, weighing more than 2,000 tonnes each.
The integrated motion compensated pile gripper tool enables the crew to upend the monopiles, which are transported horizontally on deck. Coupled with the vessel’s DP3 capability, the gripper enables the monopiles to remain vertical and stable, despite motions and waves. In the gripper several noise mitigation systems are integrated in order to reduce the underwater noise during hammering.
Bas Nekeman, DEME Offshore Business Unit Director Northern Europe, comments: “The Arcadis Ost 1 offshore wind farm is an incredible project, given the scale of these foundations and it requires an equally exceptional vessel, which is pushing boundaries and bringing the industry standards of innovation to a new level. It is wonderful to partner with Parkwind which also shares our vision regarding the importance of offshore wind in helping the world achieve the energy transition as soon as possible.”
