Home   News   Article

Easter Ross port secures heavy-duty offshore wind farm work





The caissons on the heavy-lift vessel dominate the skyline as they arrive in Ross-shire
The caissons on the heavy-lift vessel dominate the skyline as they arrive in Ross-shire

AN EASTER Ross port’s role in the development of one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms was extended this week with the arrival of a heavy duty visitor.

The Chinese heavy lift vessel, the Xia Zhi Yuan 6, arrived in the Cromarty Firth yesterday from Cartagena, Spain, carrying the first concrete gravity base caissons for use in the Moray Offshore wind farm and the Inch Cape wind farm.

The Port of Cromarty Firth says its deepwater engineering port facility at Invergordon Service Base has been chosen to fulfil the next phase of work.

The Port of Cromarty Firth has been selected as the closest port to the wind farms capable of providing both a sheltered, deepwater berth and onshore supply chain service necessary to see the project through to completion.

The caissons are to be used in the construction of offshore weather station met masts, one at the Moray wind farm and one at Inchcape, near Edinburgh.

Each caisson will be fitted with a large steel monopole, used to anchor the caisson to the sea bed, and a 90m tall steel lattice tower, on to which meteorological equipment will be installed..

Bob Buskie, CEO for the Port of Cromarty Firth said: "Talks began last year, with the unique suitability of Invergordon Service Base quickly being singled out from other competitors as the key port facility with all the right components to manage this project.

"Having been involved with the initial test turbines that were established in the Beatrice offshore windfarm in 2010, it was a natural progression that the Port as a whole and Invergordon Service Base in particular would be a strong contender for this next phase."

The Port of Cromarty Firth recently embarked on a £25m expansion project which will see it reclaim 9 acres from the sea and create a further deepwater berth to its existing port capabilities.

The expansion will be completed by Summer 2015.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More