A new Seacat offshore wind farm support vessel has visited Yarmouth to trial harbour operations prior to the proposed Navitus Bay Wind Farm.
Built by Seacat Services in Cowes, the technically advanced craft ‘Ranger’ is specifically designed to support offshore wind farm operations. The lower deck has dampened seating for a number of technicians that would need to operate at the deep-water site. Special fendering allows the craft to push into the base of the wind turbine, for safe transfer of personnel and a hiab hydraulic crane and forward work deck offer flexible operations for all types of support activities.
Yarmouth could be ideal as a strategic base for offshore operations, allowing these crafts to easily operate from a nearby, sheltered deep-water port in all conditions. If Yarmouth is selected as the operations port, management say it would have a positive impact on the local area with local businesses benefitting from increased revenue. Employment opportunities would also be available to local people.
The proposed wind farm would be constructed in Christchurch Bay, 8.6 miles South West from the Needles, with between 121 and 194 turbines planned. Navitus Bay is one of the smaller of the planned wind farms in round three, but larger than any existing offshore wind farms in round two
The project is predicted to produce enough energy to provide power for 710,000 homes.
