Germany: All 72 MP/TP foundations on Sandbank project successfully installed by Bilfinger Marine & Offshore Systems

The North Sea project is located in the German Exclusive Economic Zone, roughly 90km west of the island of Sylt and in direct vicinity to the 2015 commissioned offshore wind farm DanTysk project, in which Bilfinger Offshore also participated in the foundation installation.

The installation works started in summer 2015 and despite adverse weather conditions in November and December, the installation of the 72 Monopile and Transition Piece foundations was completed within the projected schedule.

The Sandbank project features 72 Monopiles with 6m diameter at a length of up to 70m. The longest pile weights 900to. The Monopiles have been fabricated by EEW SPC in Rostock whereas the Transition Pieces came from Bladt Industries from Aalborg. The pre-transports to the load out port Esbjerg have been done by Bilfinger on own barges.

At Esbjerg chartered heavy installation vessel Pacific Orca by Swire Blue Ocean went with 4 sets of foundations per trip to the offshore site, where Monopiles were hammered into the seabed with the currently largest hydraulic hammer in the world, Menck’s MHU 3500S.

Two systems assured a proper noise mitigation: The Hydro Sound Dampers (HSD) as near-field system combined with a Double Big Bubble Curtain (DBBC) as far-field system.

Once completed, the offshore wind farm Sandbank will provide electricity to approximately 400,000 households.