OHT Alfa Lift has signed a contract for the transport and installation of foundations for the first phase of Dogger Bank wind farm, Dogger Bank A, following the award of a Preferred Supplier Agreement in November 2019.
The contract for the second phase, Dogger Bank B, is expected to follow in due course.
The project will be the monopile installation debut for OHT’s specialist new build vessel Alfa Lift which is currently under construction at CMHI’S shipyard in China.
Alfa Lift will transport the monopile foundations and transition pieces to the offshore site, more than 130 km off the north-east coast of England, and install them in water depths up to 35 metres, utilizing the vessel’s 3,000-tonne crane, mission equipment and smart deck handling system.
“It’s great news to confirm the OHT Alfa Lift vessel for Dogger Bank A. Their vessel is one of the most innovative heavy transportation and installation vessels on the market and we are very pleased to have them working with us as we deliver this ground-breaking project.”
Steve Wilson, Dogger Bank’s project director.
“We look forward to working with Norway’s OHT to make Dogger Bank a success. The Alfa Lift is an excellent example of the new, efficient and innovative vessels which we need to revolutionise the offshore wind industry and make it even more competitive.”
Halfdan Brustad, vice president for Dogger Bank in Equinor.
The foundations will be amongst the largest ever used for offshore wind and are expected to be installed at Dogger Bank A between 2022 and 2023.
“The contract is a significant milestone for OHT and we welcome the opportunity to demonstrate Alfa Lift’s market leading capabilities in delivering this landmark project. We are privileged to be working with likeminded, forward-thinking colleagues at SSE Renewables and Equinor.”
Torgeir E. Ramstad, CEO, OHT.
Since the preferred supplier contract was announced in November last year, planning for the project is well underway and OHT is keen to engage with the local supply chain.
“We are already in detailed discussions regarding supply contracts with multiple UK companies and we will soon be announcing details of some of the remaining key suppliers we are looking for.”
Lars Kjuul Kristensen, project manager for Dogger Bank, OHT.
OHT’s Alfa Lift vessel, of Ulstein design, will arrive in Europe in good time before project mobilization. Construction is progressing as expected and has experienced no significant delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Dogger Bank wind farm is being developed by SSE Renewables and Equinor, with first power expected in 2023. The contract is subject to the project’s final investment decision.
