JUNE/JULY 2013 | £5.25 - Wind Energy Network

OFFSHORE ACCOMMODATIONOFFSHORE ACCOMMODATIONDanTysk wind farmThe DanTysk wind farm located 43miles offshore in the German sector iscurrently being developed by Vattenfalland Stadtwerke München and will featurethe second permanent accommodationplatform in an offshore wind farm. The50 man accommodation module is alsodesigned and built to offshore oil and gasstandards.As well as providing accommodation forthe crew, the living quarters will includea catering complex, washing facilities,workshops, storage areas, offices androom for leisure activities. “Anyone who’sexperienced the harsh climate of theNorth Sea, with its strong winds andwaves, will understand the importanceof good working and living conditionsfor the maintenance teams on site.In Germany we’re facing particularchallenges because offshore wind farmsare located up to 100 kilometres from thecoast,” explains Holger Grubel, head ofthe DanTysk project. “At these distancesit simply isn’t possible for crews tocommute by ship every day. It wouldtake too long to transfer crew membersand the risk of some of them getting seasick and being unable to work would betoo high.The accommodation modulewill be ready for use offshorein 2014.The future of offshoreaccommodation for wind farmmaintenanceThe future requirements for maintenanceactivities to be performed 365 days a yearin a safe environment will be driven by thesame risk based criteria used in the UKoffshore oil and gas industry. Regular infield shuttling is achievable from offshorebased helicopters and boat access ispossible too. The number of flights andboat access movements would comeunder detailed scrutiny under Safety Casetype legislation.Inherent risksThe inherent risks from the regularround trips from shore bases to thesedistant wind farms by either helicopteror boat means that permanent offshoreaccommodation facilities will need to beprovided reduce risks to ALARP (as low asreasonably practicable).Such facilities can be in many formsbut the most reliable is fixed platformssupported on steel jacket or monopilesubstructures.OGN Aquindwww.ogn-group.comClick to view more infoPhoto courtesy of Vattenfall and Stadtwerke MünchenThe accommodation platform willbe anchored on solid ground whichmeans a safer and more comfortableenvironment for our teams,” says Grubel.(DanTysk Wind Farm Press release 23-10-12)106www.windenergynetwork.co.ukwww.windenergynetwork.co.uk 107