N-Sea hired for Irish Sea offshore wind farm cable repair
N-Sea Group Secures Cable Repair Contract for Gwynt y Môr
Dutch subsea services leader N-Sea Group has been awarded a significant contract to repair a vital cable connecting the Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm to the National Grid. The wind farm, boasting a capacity of 576 megawatts (MW), has been operational since 2013 and is situated off the Welsh coast. This repair marks N-Sea’s third project for the client, highlighting the company’s expertise in subsea operations.
Details of the Repair Project
N-Sea’s scope of work involves the replacement of a 5-kilometer section of 132kV export cable, which runs from the onshore transition joint bay to the offshore platform. The project entails several key tasks, including the transition of the new cable ashore through a horizontal directional drill duct beneath a railway. Additionally, the company will perform dredging of the shore approach, conduct jointing, and test the new cable before burial.
To ensure the success of this operation, N-Sea will utilize its in-house survey, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and data center divisions to engineer and deliver a new route for the cable. Upon completion, they will provide as-built data to document the project’s execution.
The repair campaign is scheduled to take place during the summer months, utilizing the specialized cable repair vessel, *Curo*. This vessel is equipped with an advanced eight-point mooring system, enabling it to maintain a stable position during operations, even in challenging tidal conditions. Furthermore, its beaching capabilities allow *Curo* to approach and operate close to the landfall site, enhancing the efficiency and safety of the repair process.
