ESS Scoops Wind Farm Boulder Contract

Ecosse Subsea Systems (ESS) informs it has deployed the offshore supply vessel (OSV) Noordhoek Pathfinder in support of a seabed clearance workscope for a wind farm project offshore northwest England.

ESS said it will utilize boulder grab equipment to remove an estimated 1,700 boulders located over a 135-kilometer route in water depths up to 60 meters. The boulder grab spread will be used for displacing obstacles nearshore and in low density areas and will complement other seabed clearance operations being performed using ESS’s SCAR2 Seabed System.

A survey spread onboard the vessel will also provide the unnamed client with data showing the target boulders prior to displacement and final positions after removal from the seabed corridor. 

ESS operations director, Mo Petrie, said, “By combining the use of our own SCAR2 System and managing the boulder grabbing phase, we are able to offer the client the most cost-effective and time efficient option for a safe and environmentally friendly clearance of the seabed, while also minimizing disruption to the critical path of the overall project.

“The performance experienced so far underlines our capabilities in dealing with boulders issues on behalf of clients.”