Oss Foundation Installation

In August 2025, Inch Cape reached a key offshore electrical infrastructure milestone with the installation of its offshore substation jacket foundation. The jacket foundation, fabricated by Smulders at its yard in Wallsend near Newcastle in the UK, was transported offshore and installed together with the Siemens Energy Offshore Transformer Module topside. Installation was carried out by Heerema Marine Contractors using the semi-submersible crane vessel Sleipnir, one of the largest heavy-lift vessels in the world, enabling the safe and efficient placement of these major components in a single offshore campaign. This installation marked the transition from preparatory seabed and cable activities to the establishment of the core offshore electrical hub that will collect and export power from the wind farm. It followed earlier works including completion of pre-construction surveys, unexploded ordnance disposal and seabed boulder clearance, as well as preparation of the export cable route and landfall works to receive the first export cable in 2025. With the jacket foundation now installed, subsequent project steps include completing export cable installation, progressing foundation and turbine installation, and commissioning of the offshore substation so that it can support first power and eventual full operation planned for 2027. The successful execution of this complex heavy-lift operation de-risks a critical element of Inch Cape’s offshore electrical system and underpins the remaining offshore construction schedule.