Piling installation at Moray East offshore wind farm crosses halfway point

DEME Offshore is making strong progress on the installation of pin piles at the Moray East wind farm in the UK. Having started offshore construction works with the jack-up installation vessel ‘Apollo’ in May 2019, piling activities have now passed the halfway mark, with more than 156 pin piles out of a total of 309 installed. The piles are part of the jacket-based foundations on which the turbines will later be installed.

With meticulous engineering and planning, combined with carefully thought-out logistics operations which link onshore handling facilities at Invergordon with a spread of offshore vessels, the piling materials have been brought to site and smoothly hammered into their designated location.  A high degree of positional accuracy has been achieved through the use of DEME Offshore’s patented piling template, which integrates with the jack-up legs of ‘Apollo’.

Subject to the weather and any other operational conditions, DEME Offshore hopes to be able to complete the remaining piling operations by the end of 2019, in readiness for jacket installation works in 2020.

Bart De Poorter, General Manager at DEME Offshore, emphasises: “Crossing the halfway point is not only a major milestone for DEME Offshore, it also highlights the strength of the collaborative approach of all stakeholders involved. Such a complex and challenging project is only made possible by working closely with our local partners and suppliers. Together we have made good progress and will remain focused on a safe and timely completion of the pile installation.”

DEME is a world leader in the highly specialised fields of dredging, marine engineering and environmental remediation. The company can build on more than 140 years of know-how and experience and has fostered a pioneering approach throughout its history, being a front runner in innovation and new technologies.

DEME’s vision is to work towards a sustainable future by offering solutions for global challenges: a rising sea level, a growing population, reduction of CO2 emissions, polluted rivers and soils and the scarcity of natural resources. Although DEME’s activities originated with the core dredging business, the portfolio diversified substantially over the decades, including dredging and land reclamation, solutions for the offshore energy market, infra marine solutions and environmental solutions.

While the company’s roots are in Belgium, DEME has built a strong presence in all of the world’s seas and continents, operating in more than 90 countries worldwide. DEME can rely on 5,200 highly skilled professionals across the globe. With a versatile and modern fleet of over 100 vessels, backed by a broad range of auxiliary equipment, the company can provide solutions for even the most complex projects.

DEME achieved a turnover of 2.65 billion euros in 2018.