The Fécamp offshore wind farm project is progressing at a good pace. In accordance with the provisional schedule, work at sea continues with the installation of the first gravity foundations.

On August 1, the installation of the first foundation was successfully completed in the area of the future offshore wind farm.

The consortium made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Saipem and Boskalis is responsible for the construction, transport and installation at sea of the gravity foundations on which the wind turbines will rest. Each foundation weighs, empty, nearly 5,000 tonnes and measures 31 meters in diameter at its base. The height of the foundation, ranging from 48 to 54 meters, varies depending on the depth.

Quai de Bougainville in Le Havre, the gravity foundations are loaded one by one onto barges accommodating three foundations then securely secured using a fixing system. The tugs then provide transport to the site at sea where the installation vessel Sleipnir, operating on behalf of Saipem, one of the largest crane ships in the world, installs them by placing them on the seabed.

Before these operations, the ship Rockpiper de Boskalis places a bed of gravel on the seabed to guarantee the flatness of the ground. Once laid, the foundations are ballasted with gravel.

The installation of gravity foundations more than 13 km from the coast of Fécamp will continue in the coming months in compliance with strict safety and environmental protection rules.

PRESS CONTACTS

For EDF Renewables: 

Lauriane Guillemet – 07 80 96 91 54 – lauriane.guillemet@partenairesdavenir.com

For Bouygues Travaux Publics: 

Marie Berneval – 07 64 89 59 77 – m.berneval@bouygues-construction.com