Ecosse Subsea Systems (ESS) has won a seabed clearance contract on the £2.6bn Beatrice Offshore Windfarm in the Outer Moray Firth.
The Grampian-based company will conduct boulder clearing operations in 50 metre water depth, deploying its SCAR2 Seabed System on behalf of client Siem Offshore Contractors.
Beatrice is located approximately nine miles off the Caithness coast and on completion in 2019 will consist of 84 turbines which are expected to power roughly 450,000 homes.
The wind farm is being developed with a Tier 1 supply chain, comprising Seaway Heavy Lifting, Subsea 7, Nexans and Siemens, and is expected to deliver an estimated £680 million into the UK and Scottish economy via employment and supply chain opportunities during the construction phase, and around £400-£525 million during the wind farm’s 25-year operational life.
ESS commercial director Keith McDermott, said: “We’ve had a busy start to this year with mobilisation on a major interconnector project in the North Sea followed by this boulder-clearing workscope for Siem Offshore Contractors.
“With experience of similar clearance and trenching workscopes on Race Bank and Westermost Rough windfarms offshore the east coast of England, and a number of projects in the Baltic Sea, our track record in renewables is well-established.
“We are focused on exporting this technology and expertise into emerging markets in Asia and the US, where offshore wind is beginning to get decent traction, and the Beatrice award strengthens our pedigree when bidding for other contracts.”
UTEC appoint new chief executive in Aberdeen
UTEC – part of the Acteon subsea services group – has appointed a Stuart Cameron as new chief executive as original founder Martin O’Carroll retires from the business.
He will be based in the newly formed UTEC headquarters within the Acteon building in Aberdeen, alongside other branded services such as Intermoor, Aquatic and 2H
He has spent more than 20 years in the international subsea construction sector having previously held a variety of operational and management roles for Subsea 7 in the UK, USA and Asia as well as Chief Operating Officer for Ceona.
Meanwhile, Aberdeen-based Subsea UK has raised £5,000 for two charities at its annual awards dinner. The charity collection is split equally between the Scottish Association for Mental Health and Cancer Research UK.
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