Inch Cape is moving into the next phase of construction of its Scottish offshore wind farm, with the first turbine components now arriving at the port of Dundee. Forth Ports’ port of Dundee will receive components for the project’s 72 wind turbines. Each turbine will comprise a four-section tower, three 115.5-metre-long blades and a nacelle containing the electrical equipment. Inch Cape will be the first UK project to use Vestas V236-15MW turbines.
The first tower sections arrived in early August aboard Bravewind, with further shipments expected almost weekly until late September. Six vessels will be involved in the deliveries, including Boldwind, Tony Stark and Vestvind.
More than 130 personnel will work across the 170,000-square-metre yard, handling component deliveries, marshalling, assembly and commissioning before the turbines are loaded out and transported to the offshore site.
A total of 576 components will be handled at the port, comprising 288 tower sections, 216 blades stacked in sets of three and 72 nacelles. The tower sections will be delivered first, followed by the nacelles and blades.
The tower sections will be assembled at the quayside, with the completed towers reaching up to 127.4 metres in height.
The turbines will be installed by Cadeler’s turbine installation vessel Wind Mover, which will transport them to the offshore site in batches of four from November.
Inch Cape took control of the port in summer and has completed enabling works and established temporary offices and facilities for teams from Vestas and local contractors. The port will operate as a pre-installation yard for the project for the next 12 months.
Inch Cape is owned equally by ESB and Red Rock Renewables.
