MPI WTIVs continue work on E.On’s Amrumbank supported by new MPI Offshore Tees Base
MPI Offshore’s wind-turbine-installation vessels are enjoying a positive start to 2015, supported by the newly acquired Tees Base, the company said in its press release.
MPI Adventure recently completed her mobilisation and left the Tees Base earlier this week. She is now in Esjberg for loading of the Siemens 3.6MW WTGs for the first installations in the next stage of the E.On Journey – the Amrumbank Turbine installations.
Preparation work for this WTG installation campaign was undertaken at the modern MPI Offshore Tees Base, a facility that MPI has now taken over permanent residency of. The complete process of sea-fastening design, subsequent local construction and installation on board the WTIV was managed from Tees Base by a dedicated project management team, working in close cooperation with E.On.
The Tees Base provides MPI Offshore’s expanding fleet with quay frontage for project mobilisation/demobilisation, plus warehousing space for specialist equipment and customer components. The quayside and frontage have access to hard-standing and lay-down areas suitable for offshore wind components.
Since September 2014, sister vessel MPI Discovery has been installing monopiles and TPs on the Amrumbank site, with the work being carried out by MPI’s own installation and heavy-lift crews. Co-ordinated management of construction crews on board MPI Discovery has guaranteed effective use of the integrated gripper assembly and the vessel’s SPMT multi-wheel trailers, whilst simultaneously deploying NMD (noise-mitigation devices) to comply with noise restrictions for piling offshore. This has ensured effective progress throughout the winter months.
MPI Discovery is scheduled to complete the foundation phase of the project this Spring. The vessel will then return to Tees Base for demobilisation or - with her spread of installation tools and equipment - to be made available for other offshore installations through 2015.