Installation of all 54 transition pieces at the Inch Cape offshore wind farm has been completed, marking the latest stage in the project's offshore construction programme. The milestone follows the installation of all 54 monopile foundations at the North Sea site two months ago.
Seaway7's heavy lift vessel Seaway Alfa Lift transported the transition pieces from the marshalling yard at the Port of Leith, installing six units during each voyage.
Each transition piece is 28 metres high, has an outer diameter of 8.3 metres and weighs around 700 tonnes. The structures connect the monopile foundations to the wind turbine towers.
The transition pieces were delivered with contributions from several contractors, including SLPE, CWHI, CFHI, Forth Projects, Global Energy Solutions and Seaway7.
Each unit is fitted with a boat landing, access ladder and external working platform to provide access for maintenance during the operational life of the wind farm.
The next phase of offshore construction includes installation of 54 pin piles using a pre-piling template, followed by the installation of 18 jacket foundations. Work scheduled for later this year also includes completion of the second export cable burial, installation of the first array cables and installation of the first wind turbines.
Inch Cape is owned by ESB and Red Rock Renewables in a 50:50 joint venture.
