Seajacks, working with main installation contractor Kajima Corporation, has completed the installation of 33 monopiles and transition pieces off the Akita Prefecture coastline using the installation vessel ‘Seajacks Zaratan’.
The project which is owned by Akita Offshore Wind (AOW) is the first commercial-size fixed-bottom wind farm to be constructed in Japan and on completion will provide around 140MW of renewable energy. Despite the challenges of changing Zaratan to Japanese Flag, the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic and mitigation measures required to operate a jack up vessel in this seismic region, the project has completed within a few weeks of the original planned end date.
Seajacks Zaratan will now remobilise for construction of the WTG topsides during 2022.
Blair Ainslie Seajacks CEO, said:
“The completion of the foundation installation at Akita and Noshiro is a fantastic achievement by all parties involved in the project. We are proud to have executed the first phase of this project smoothly and on schedule.
Despite the challenges faced operating in a different region and the issues due to the pandemic, Seajacks and our partners have managed to complete the foundation installation campaign effectively.
We are looking forward to continuing the great work next year throughout the turbine installation phase and will continue to uphold our high standards, ensuring that we play our part in making this project a success."