Hi All
Further information courtesy of New Energy Focus @
http://newenergyfocus.com/do/ecco.py/view_item?listid=1&listcatid=32&listitemid=1872§ion=Wind#"Rhyl Flats offshore wind project hit by loss of installation vessel
30-10-08
Rhyl Flats offshore wind project hit by loss of installation vessel
The Titan-1 was going to be used to help install wind turbines at the Rhyl Flats site, where foundations are already in place - photo: Offshore Wind Marine Power Services
A jack-up vessel that was expected to continue work on the Rhyl Flats offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea has been reported lost at sea, writes Rachel Johnson.
Titan 1 was en route to Liverpool Bay from the Gulf of Mexico when the incident happened, and was scheduled to arrive at the Rhyl Flats site five miles off the north Wales coast at the end of this month.
It was being transported on board the semi-submersible heavy lift vessel MV Ancora when it was lost.
According to the ship's owners, Singapore-based KS Energy Services, the Ancora experienced engine problems in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday night, and as a consequence of the vessel's rolling and tilting motion, the Titan 1 shifted to portside, capsized and sank.
There was reported to be no loss of life or injury to the crew during the incident.
A spokesman for Rhyl Flats developer npower Renewables told New Energy Focus today that the firm was "aware" that the KS Titan 1 vessel had been lost at sea.
However, the company's spokesman added: "It is too early to predict what impact the vessel loss will have on the Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm construction at this time."
Substitute
KS Energy Services said yesterday that it is in discussions with its contractor to substitute the Titan 1 with another identical ship to carry out the contracted work.
The barge, which was also lined up to work on offshore wind projects in Denmark, was under a long-term chartered contracted to Siemens, which is supplying the wind turbines for the Rhyl Flats offshore wind farm. The contract had been due to run out in 2022.
Earlier this month npower renewables announced the impending arrival of Titan 1, as it reported the arrival in Mostyn Deep of The Lisa, another jack up barge being used at the Rhyl Flats site to erect the 25 wind turbines on top of foundations already installed at the site (see this New Energy Focus story).
In statement on 6 October, npower had confirmed: "Lisa will be joined by KS Titan 1 which will arrive off the north Wales coast from the United States on board Heavylift Ancora. On arrival at Mostyn Deep, around the end of October, Heavylift Ancora will flood itself so allowing Titan to manoeuvre off into Liverpool Bay."
The firm continued: "Titan is a new, three-legged and self-propelled vessel. It has two onboard cranes with a total lifting capacity of 180 tonnes."
KS Energy Services said Titan 1 was fully insured, and that the loss of the barge was not expected to have any material impact on its performance this financial year. The vessel had previously been working in the Gulf of Mexico since 2006, working on offshore oil projects."
Regards