Hughes Subsea Services (Hughes) was awarded a major contract to supply ROV services to Vattenfall for subsea inspection work on three of the company’s UK offshore wind farms.
The contract covered general visual inspection (GVI) and 3D photogrammetry of Cable Protection Systems (CPS) and cable-ends using the VALOR Observation class ROV on Thanet, Kentish Flats and Kentish Flats Extension offshore wind farms, located in UK waters near Ramsgate.
The work scope was part of Vattenfall’s ongoing operations and maintenance program to ensure the optimal performance and reliability of its offshore wind assets.
Challenges
The daily operations of launching, operating and recovery the ROV were severely hampered due to the third party vessel being limited in its role towards ROV survey operations.
The tide conditions around Kent restricted visibility due to the flow of incoming and outgoing tides
Workscope
General visual inspection (GVI) and 3D photogrammetry of Cable Protection Systems (CPS) and cable-ends using the VALOR Observation class ROV on Thanet, Kentish Flats and Kentish Flats Extension offshore wind farms.
Inspections to confirm condition of cable ends and to report any sign of movement, wear and tear, abrasion, rotation, or damaged outer sheathe/armour.
Solution
Hughes mobilised 2 teams for continuous 24h delivery (day/night shifts) to carry out the inspection scope on the Ramsgate cluster offshore wind farm.
The VALOR ROV was deployed, equipped with advanced sensors and cameras, to capture high-resolution images and 3D models of the cable infrastructure, from the bellmouth to the cable burial point.
The data will be used to assess the condition and integrity of the cables and components, as well as to identify any potential issues or risks.
Hughes were able to react safely and quickly to the project challenges, adapting to the new schedule and performing surveys at the client’s priority locations, with the focus on GVI and identifying for any anomalies.
Simon Mclauchlan, Project Manager at Hughes
We are delighted to have completed this contract for Vattenfall, which demonstrates our expertise and capabilities in the offshore wind sector. We successfully delivered high-quality subsea inspection services for their Kent wind farms. This contract also showcases the versatility and performance of our VALOR ROV, which can operate in challenging environments and provide accurate and reliable data for our clients.