Heerema Marine Contractors (HMC) has completed the installation of all 64 monopile foundations for EnBW’s He Dreiht Offshore Wind Farm in the German section of the North Sea and currently Germany’s largest offshore wind farm.
The installation campaign was performed by HMC’s Semi-Submersible Crane Vessel (SSCV) Thialf. Each monopile measures approximately 70 meters in length and weighs 1,350 tons, and each transition piece being 32 meters long and weighing 670 tons. The installation was finished well within the agreed timeframe, with all activities, including full grouting, completed within 24 hours per foundation location, HMC states.
“A key factor in our success was the dedication and expertise of our highly skilled crew aboard the Thialf, who, together with our specialized subcontractors, executed excellent installation cycles. Moreover, these cycles were made possible by the efficient operation of Thialf’s dual cranes, the significant noise reduction achieved using the innovative T-NMS-10000, and the feeder barge concept, which ensured a continuous supply of monopiles and transition pieces to the vessel. This achievement underlines Heerema’s commitment to efficiency and excellence in the offshore wind sector.” Heerema’s Chief Operational Officer Michel Hendriks adds: “I am incredibly proud of our onshore and offshore teams for making this project a success, demonstrating Heerema’s precision and efficiency in complex installations. Thanks to the trust and cooperation of our client ENBW, we’ve set a new benchmark for future monopile projects regarding performance and environmental standards. We look forward to continuing our leadership in the industry with a strong commitment to making the impossible possible offshore.”
He Dreiht OWF
He Dreiht is being built roughly 85 kilometers northwest of Borkum and about 110 kilometers west of Helgoland. At peak times, more than 500 people work on this large construction site in the middle of the sea. Over 60 vessels are involved. The latest generation of Vestas wind turbines will be installed starting in spring 2025 with a capacity of 15 megawatts (MW) each. The wind farm is scheduled to start operation in late 2025 with a total capacity of 960 MW, which is sufficient to supply roughly 1.1 million households with electricity. Source: HMC / EnBW
