Germany: Global Marine signs energy contract

The Prysmian Group has chartered Global Marine Systems Limited’s cable-laying vessel, the C.S. Sovereign, from mid-2016 into early 2017.  Her remit will be to install inter array cables at the German Offshore wind farm that is currently estimated to be providing power for nearly a quarter of a million European homes.

The Wikinger Offshore Wind Farm is situated in the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Baltic Sea, 35km from the Island of Rugen and near the maritime borders with Denmark, Sweden and Poland.  The site encompasses an area of approximately 35 km² giving an estimated capacity of up to 350 megawatts.

“Global Marine is delighted to be working again with Prysmian Group on this important project which further consolidates the good relationship we have with Prysmian in offshore wind.” commented Nicci Broom, Director Sales and Commercial at Global Marine.  “It is also a significant award as it recognises our competence in subsea cabling in the ever-expanding renewables market.”

“Prysmian Group believe Global Marine has the right assets, personnel and competences to successfully operate in the renewable market therefore we are certain that our choice to cooperate again with Global Marine will bring both companies excellent results on the Wikinger OWF.” commented Fabio Bocchi, General Manager at Prysmian PowerLink Services Ltd.

The C.S. Sovereign is the ideal vessel for the installation and burial of cables for this sector.  For example, it is equipped with two, powered 2,300 tonne ‘basket’ turntables, designed to operate at a maximum linear speed of 900m/hour, optimising the cost-efficiency of cable-laying.  Additionally, her open deck allows the deployment of a variety of subsea vehicles to assist in the process.

This multi-purpose DP2 vessel has been involved in many projects in the renewables sector most recently Global Tech 1 with the installation and burial of 80 inter array cables, previously working on the Thornton Bank project off the coast of Belgium in 2011 and before that Horn’s Rev 2 working for Dong Energy at the windfarm off Denmark.  C.S. Sovereign earlier this year completed an oil and gas fibre optic installation project in the North Sea for offshore communications specialist Tampnet.