Heerema Marine Contractors said it has started construction of a new float-over barge that will be used to install offshore substations for European transmission system operator TenneT.
The company said first steel on the 220-metre barge, known as H-731, was cut at the CIMC SOE shipyard on Dec. 11, marking the formal start of construction. The steel cutting was carried out by Klaas Heerema, it added.
The barge is being built for TenneT’s 2-gigawatt offshore grid programme and is intended for the installation of large offshore substations in the North Sea from 2027, according to Heerema. The projects form part of efforts by the Netherlands and Germany to expand offshore electricity transmission capacity.
Heerema said the vessel’s engineering has focused on optimising sailing performance in order to reduce fuel consumption during towing operations.
“The 220-metre barge is being built for the TenneT 2GW programme and will be used to install large offshore substations in the North Sea starting in 2027,” the company said in a statement.
Heerema added that the project is being delivered in cooperation with CIMC SOE and TenneT Germany.
