Ørsted has selected CHC to provide helicopter services during the construction and initial operations phase of Hornsea Two offshore wind farm.
It extends the relationship from Hornsea One, which it will succeed as the world’s largest when built out in 2022.
CHC will continue to work with Unifly to serve the contract, with a combination of Leonardo AW139 and AW169 helicopters, based at Humberside Airport, to be used.
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It takes in crew transfers and cargo flights to both the offshore accommodation jack-up barge and installation vessels - in what is an 18-month phase.
CHC and Ørsted will also expand their current contract for helicopter transport and technician hoisting at the Hornsea One wind farm during the site’s operational phase, including the neighbouring Hornsea Two site once it is in operation.
The company is based alongside the Hornsea Two onshore construction site, recently established at the Kirmington base.
Jason Ledden, senior project manager in construction for Ørsted, said: “We are continually adapting and improving the way we work as we construct our sustainable offshore projects whilst the safety of our personnel remains of paramount importance to us. Having provided heli-services for Hornsea One offshore wind farm during its construction phase, CHC has a proven track record in this area and as such, we are pleased to work alongside partners who share our attitude towards safety and collaboration.”
In the coming months, it is expected that Ørsted will benefit from a dedicated AW139 helicopter for daily crew transfers.
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Aerial transportation complements the regular sailings from Grimsby, with service operation vessels deployed on fortnightly stints from the huge East Coast Hub base in the port’s Royal Dock. Both air and sea transport is co-ordinated from there.
Mark Edwards, operations programme manager for Ørsted said: “We are very happy to expand our relationship with CHC to cover the Hornsea Two wind farm. By working together with CHC to cover both Hornsea One and Hornsea Two, we will be able to operate much more efficiently in keeping the turbines spinning and delivering over 2.5GW across both wind farms.”
Located 89km from the East Yorkshire coast, Hornsea Two features 165 8MW Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy wind turbines, which will be spread across a 462 sq km area. Blades will be manufactured in Hull, with offshore construction due to start soon.
Mark Abbey, CHC’s regional director, said: “I am delighted that we are able to continue to support Ørsted on this landmark project. It is a real privilege.
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“CHC’s long-term strategy to broaden our range of services to the energy market and continue to grow our renewables service alongside our oil and gas, and search and rescue service. Thanks to our unique history and global expertise, we have been developing both our on and offshore wind sector business within the renewables industry.”
Last week saw Hornsea Three take a slight step forward, with Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma, stating he was “minded to approve” the project, subject to securing ecological compensation measures. It does, however, face a further delay as the final decision deadline was pushed back a fourth time to the end of the year.
A spokesman for Humberside Airport said: “We are very pleased Orsted has selected CHC to provide helicopter services from Humberside Airport for the Hornsea Two project. Last year, Orsted opened its Hornsea Two offshore construction base at the airport following the success of Hornsea One, and the continued commitment the company has made is welcome news for us and the wider Humber region.”