Offshore Energy Support Vessel (OESV) operator Seacat Services will provide the vessels to support the construction of Scotland’s second major offshore wind farm. The contract consists of a 730-day charter for 26-metre catamaran, Seacat Intrepid, starting on 25th September. Intrepid will be joined early next year by Seacat Courageous.
BOWL is under development in the Outer Moray Firth in the north of Scotland. It will generate 588 MW of power and is part-owned by SSE (40 percent), with other owners being Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) (35 percent) and Red Rock Power Limited (25 percent). It will receive onshore support from the new Operations and Maintenance (O&M) hub at the Port of Wick, which is currently undergoing construction.
The wind industry in Scotland is seeking to maximise the benefit of lessons learned and transferrable knowledge from the wider UK and European markets. There are considerable investments and opportunities planned for the future in the Scottish offshore wind sector and a key focus for asset developers and owners is the assembly of an experienced project team, especially given that the first deep-water utility-scale projects are being brought online in challenging waters off the Scottish coast.
Seacat Services has already established a long-term relationship with SSE at the Greater Gabbard wind farm off the coast of East Anglia. With vessels under contract supporting construction and and O&M activity at project sites throughout UK, German and Danish waters, Seacat Services is well-placed to support BOWL throughout the time and resource-intensive construction phase.
At 26 metres, Seacat Intrepid and Seacat Courageous are at the larger end of the OESV scale, providing them with high capability, without compromising on manoeuvrability and responsiveness. Both vessels benefit from extensive fuel and cargo-carrying capacity, and operate at a service speed of up to 26 knots. The proven versatility and reliability of these vessels will be essential in driving the efficiency of crew and equipment transfers, while the technicians’ familiarity with the vessels will ensure their safety and enable them to complete their jobs to the best of their ability.
“Beatrice is our first Scottish project, and we’re looking forward to setting a benchmark for future wind farms in the region” said Ian Baylis, Managing Director, Seacat Services. “In doing so, we’ll be aiming to benefit from lessons learnt on UK projects, further strengthen collaboration and long-term relationships, and support opportunities for the regional economy. We currently have thirteen vessels and their crews operating off the east coast of the UK, and will always look to recruit locally where possible.”
Image: Seacat Courageous
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