Worlds largest jack-up vessel upgraded

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»Seajacks Scylla«, the world’s largest jac[ds_preview]k-up vessel has been upgraded after the first employment of the windpark project »Veja Mate Offshore«.

The big offshore support vessel of owner Seajacks was recently handled at the Rotterdam Offshore Group (ROG) terminal in the Waalhaven. During the jack-up vessels stay at the  facility, ROG performed an upgrade on the vessels mooring system.

After the upgrade, »Seajacks Scylla« sailed to Esbjerg where the vessel has been mobilised for the 2nd Phase of the Veja Mate offshore wind farm project which includes the turbine installation of 67 Siemens SWT-6.0-154 wind turbines at the 402MW wind farm. »Veja Mate« is a EUR 1.9 billion (US$2 billion) offshore wind project expected to be fully operational by 2018.

»Seajacks Scylla« had already completed phase 1 of the project, installing 67 foundation monopiles at the site located some 95km north west of the island of Borkum in the German exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Each monopile weighs approximately 1300 tonnes, has a diameter of 7.8 metres and each transition piece is over 25metres in length and weighs approximately 360 tonnes.

Europe‘s biggest port Rotterdam aims to position itself as a major hub for this kind of works. Joost Eenhuizen – Business manager Offshore at the Port of Rotterdam Authority said: »With more focus and consequently business in offshore wind in the port, we expect more jack-up vessels to call our port. Companies like ROG are taking care of a warm welcome to the new type of visitors of the harbor with specific needs for jack-up possibilities and professional (de) mobilization facilities.«

Martin van Leest – Managing Director ROG added: »We were very proud to have this unique vessel at our yard. The level of interest was high and even The Spido tour boats adjusted their route to visit the Waalhaven to see Scylla. We hope to have Scylla back at our yard after she finishes her Walney project.«

Just recently, ROG announced hat is has started upgrading its own facilities in Waaalhaven. According to the company is has acquired the neighbouring land and buildings to their existing premises allowing the significant expansion of their quayside, storage as well as office capabilities. ROG will now be able to accommodate vessels up to 320 m in length where previously the maximum vessel length was 200 m.

Jack-up vessel in service since 2015

The jack-up vessel was delivered by the Korean Samsung Heavy Industries Shipyard in Geoje in 2015. The vessel has been designed to operate in the UK Round 3 offshore zones, Scottish territorial waters and the other North West European markets.

Based on the Gusto MSC NG14000X design, the ABS-classed »Seajacks Scylla«, has more than 8,000 tonnes of available variable deck load. Equipped with a 1,540 tonne leg-encircling crane and a usable deck space in excess of 5,000 square meters, the unit is outfitted with 105-meter legs with the ability to install components in water depths to 65 meters. The rig is capable of meeting the installation needs of jumbo-monopiles, jackets, and turbines of future wind farms in deeper waters farther from shore.