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Displaying items by tag: Wind Turbine boom

In south-west Scotland, Peel Ports Clydeport is set for a record year handling wind turbine components at the King George V Dock site in Glasgow as the operator continues to support the renewable energy sector.

The UK’s second largest port operator will process over a thousand components, weighing more than 60,000 tonnes, at the site throughout 2024.

Since 2005 Peel Ports Clydeport has handled over 1,200 wind turbines through King George V Dock, resulting in more than 35 percent of total capacity installed in Scotland – more than any other port across the country.

The expected tonnage for 2024 marks a bumper year ahead for the facility, located on the banks of the River Clyde, which has a strong track record in transporting components used for onshore based wind projects.

Representing a significant increase in tonnage from last year, some 1,050 components, 100 complete turbines, and 249 blades from North Kyle Windfarm in East Ayrshire are set to go through the port’s deep-sea dock facility this year. The group will further handle around 550 blades, 100 drivetrains, 100 nacelles and 300 tower sections.

King George V Dock’s deep-sea facility is uniquely equipped to accommodate the handling of large-scale wind turbine components, allowing efficient movement of vital equipment to and from wind farm sites.

With Clydeport anticipating a surge in wind components in the year ahead, the news reflects growing momentum across Scotland’s renewables sector, and will help drive the country towards meeting its sustainable energy targets.

Jim McSporran, port director at Peel Ports Clydeport, said: “We’re all proud to be a major player in driving Scotland’s renewable energy ambitions forward.

“The tonnage set to pass through King George V Dock in the year ahead is really impressive, but what’s more, it shows the confidence of those working across the renewables sector in our ability to open the door for the seamless, and vital, transportation of key components.

“As the world looks to rise to the most urgent environmental challenges, the need for renewable energy has never been greater. A key part of our strategy moving forward is to ensure we are ready to help the sector meet this demand.”

Published in Ports & Shipping

Marine Institute Research Vessel Tom Crean

Ireland’s new marine research vessel will be named the RV Tom Crean after the renowned County Kerry seaman and explorer who undertook three major groundbreaking expeditions to the Antarctic in the early years of the 20th Century which sought to increase scientific knowledge and to explore unreached areas of the world, at that time.

Ireland's new multi-purpose marine research vessel RV Tom Crean, was delivered in July 2022 and will be used by the Marine Institute and other State agencies and universities to undertake fisheries research, oceanographic and environmental research, seabed mapping surveys; as well as maintaining and deploying weather buoys, observational infrastructure and Remotely Operated Vehicles.

The RV Tom Crean will also enable the Marine Institute to continue to lead and support high-quality scientific surveys that contribute to Ireland's position as a leader in marine science. The research vessel is a modern, multipurpose, silent vessel (designed to meet the stringent criteria of the ICES 209 noise standard for fisheries research), capable of operating in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Tom Crean is able to go to sea for at least 21 days at a time and is designed to operate in harsh sea conditions.

RV Tom Crean Specification Overview

  • Length Overall: 52.8 m
  • Beam 14m
  • Draft 5.2M 

Power

  • Main Propulsion Motor 2000 kw
  • Bow Thruster 780 kw
  • Tunnel thruster 400 kw

Other

  • Endurance  21 Days
  • Range of 8,000 nautical miles
  • DP1 Dynamic Positioning
  • Capacity for 3 x 20ft Containers

Irish Marine Research activities

The new state-of-the-art multi-purpose marine research vessel will carry out a wide range of marine research activities, including vital fisheries, climate change-related research, seabed mapping and oceanography.

The new 52.8-metre modern research vessel, which will replace the 31-metre RV Celtic Voyager, has been commissioned with funding provided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine approved by the Government of Ireland.

According to Aodhán FitzGerald, Research Vessel Manager of the MI, the RV Tom Crean will feature an articulated boom crane aft (6t@ 10m, 3T@ 15m), located on the aft-gantry. This will be largely used for loading science equipment and net and equipment handling offshore.

Mounted at the stern is a 10T A-frame aft which can articulate through 170 degrees which are for deploying and recovering large science equipment such as a remotely operated vehicle (ROV’s), towed sleds and for fishing operations.

In addition the fitting of an 8 Ton starboard side T Frame for deploying grabs and corers to 4000m which is the same depth applicable to when the vessel is heaving but is compensated by a CTD system consisting of a winch and frame during such operations.

The vessel will have the regulation MOB boat on a dedicated davit and the facility to carry a 6.5m Rigid Inflatable tender on the port side.

Also at the aft deck is where the 'Holland 1' Work class ROV and the University of Limericks 'Etain' sub-Atlantic ROV will be positioned. In addition up to 3 x 20’ (TEU) containers can be carried.

The newbuild has been engineered to endure increasing harsher conditions and the punishing weather systems encountered in the North-East Atlantic where deployments of RV Tom Crean on surveys spent up to 21 days duration.

In addition, RV Tom Crean will be able to operate in an ultra silent-mode, which is crucial to meet the stringent criteria of the ICES 209 noise standard for fisheries research purposes.

The classification of the newbuild as been appointed to Lloyds and below is a list of the main capabilities and duties to be tasked by RV Tom Crean:

  • Oceanographic surveys, incl. CTD water sampling
  • Fishery research operations
  • Acoustic research operations
  • Environmental research and sampling operation incl. coring
  • ROV and AUV/ASV Surveys
  • Buoy/Mooring operations