ALE’s offshore engineering expertise proves itself on world’s biggest offshore windfarm project
ALE has used their offshore engineering expertise to complete their full scope of work on one of the biggest offshore windfarm projects in the world, Ørsted’s Hornsea Project One.
As well as deploying new and innovative equipment for the first time, ALE has been able to utilise the experience of their Conbit operation for the project’s structural engineering to provide a cost-efficient and safer solution for the project.
ALE was contracted by GeoSea to provide the specialist offshore engineering alongside the marine transportation, sea-fastening, load-out and ballasting of over 100 transition pieces (TPs) in the UK.
ALE’s scope on the project began with the load-out of the TPs, each weighing 337t and measuring 25m high, from the fabrication yard onto the barge. Conbit provided the engineering for cost-effective storage and SPMT stability during the ALE transport operations at the yard. For the structural engineering, the Conbit team performed the structural integrity and sea fastening calculations of the grillages on the barge deck of the SARAH S barge. Once on the barge, the TPs were transported on the River Tees to the discharge berth.
The project was the inaugural job for ALE’s innovative SARAH S barge. It is 3m narrower than most North Sea barges, making it ideal for this project, as the barge could fit between the quayside and the offshore installation vessel, and fell in line with the vessel’s crane radius limits for transferring the TPs from the barge to the installation vessel.
“We are delighted to have successfully completed our scope for Ørsted’s Hornsea Project One. This has been a long-term project and ALE provided the full, specialist marine scope of work for these operations, which, combined with the strength of the ALE – Conbit collaboration, has demonstrated the breadth of ALE’s expertise,” commented Steve Small, Commercial Manager – Marine.
The project concluded in February 2019 when ALE completed the final discharge of the 106th TP onto the installation vessel.
