Frederic Perdrix News

Houlder, MPI Install 650T Pile Gripper Arms

The pile Gripper Arms, installed this week, stabilize 6m diameter 650t steel piles as they are driven into the seabed by the MPI Discovery installation jack up vessel. Installed on the vessel’s stern below deck level, they provide resistance to wave, tide and current forces in water depths of up to 40m. Their position and the additional control this provides significantly reduces installation times providing a valuable enhancement to the Discovery’s capability, Houlder said. “The challenge of handling offshore wind turbine piles has grown along with their size.” commented Frederic Perdrix…

Offshore Wind Turbine Access System Trial Completed

Houlder & BMT Nigel Gee announce that their jointly developed Turbine Access System (TAS) has successfully completed offshore trials. The TAS was fitted to Turbine Transfers’ 24m Cemlyn Bay for a four week trials period at RWE’s Rhyl Flats offshore windfarm off the coast of Wales. The TAS is a lightweight motion compensated gangway that provides substantially improved access to offshore wind turbines for maintenance personnel. It considerably increases the level of safety and operability, both of which are prime goals for offshore wind farm operators and developers.