Fugro to Conduct Substantial Marine Site Characterization Project

This is the largest geotechnical site characterization program tendered by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl, part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy) and will be performed in the Hollandse Kust (west) Wind Farm Zone.

Other contracts executed by Geo-data specialist Fugro in the various zones of Hollandse Kust (zuid and noord) and Borssele wind energy developments since 2015 include geophysical and geotechnical data acquisition and metocean monitoring.

With project preparations underway, and a target start date in April, contract finalization is expected soon. The geotechnical programme will continue until September and comprises a seabed investigation and borehole drilling. Fugro will also deliver standard and advanced laboratory testing and an integrated geological/geotechnical soil model which will be used by future developers of the wind farm to prepare their bids.

The fieldwork will utilize Fugro vessels including state-of-the-art geotechnical drilling vessel, Fugro Scout. Deployment of Fugro’s innovative SEACALF MkIV system for seabed cone penetration testing will enhance operational safety as its coiled rod requires no manual handling. The system is also much less weather sensitive than conventional systems, increasing productivity by avoiding downtime.

“For these large offshore projects, the availability of efficient systems and having access to the right resources is crucial; being able to mobilize three dedicated geotechnical vessels for this project has been a major part of the success of this tender,” said Sven Plasman, Fugro’s Project Director at Fugro. “Our SEACALF MkIV system enables us to acquire high quality data in a safe manner, and deliver on time to RVO.nl. It is now the geotechnical system of choice in offshore wind farm developments worldwide, from the United States to Taiwan.”

Ruud de Bruijne, RVO.nl's project manager, said, “It’s very important that the Netherlands Enterprise Agency prepares the best possible package of site studies for future developers of this offshore wind farm. We are confident that Fugro can enable us to do this, delivering high quality geodata for the offshore wind energy permit tender.”

With a total capacity of 1400 MW, the Hollandse Kust (west) Wind Farm Zone lies in the coastal waters of the province of Zuid-Holland, 51 kilometers off the west coast of the Netherlands.