UXO survey along the cable route for the IJmuiden Ver windfarms
Project summary
UXO survey along the proposed cable route for the IJmuiden Ver windfarms. Prior to any cable installation the route needs to be examined for potential unexploded ordnance that could hinder and endanger the cable installation works.
UXO survey along the proposed cable route for the IJmuiden Ver windfarms. Prior to any cable installation the route needs to be examined for potential unexploded ordnance that could hinder and endanger the cable installation works.
Deep BV performed the UXO surveys in the nearshore areas, the tidal areas, and the Veerse Meer area. Due to the different surroundings, from very shallow to further offshore, and in the Veerse Meer with wildly challenging topography, Deep employed a number of different vessels and platforms for the surveys. The survey vessels Deep Locus and Breaker performed the nearshore works, each equipped with an Iron Lady ROTV fitted with 8 magnetometers. The shallow and challenging areas were surveyed using shallow draft vessel Wind, towing a MagCat non-magnetic platform for the magnetometers.
The Veerse Meer posed its own unique set of challenges. The topography changes rapidly between water depths of more than 25m, to very shallow banks. This difficult area was further complicated by the shore landings, where maneuverability was very limited. The first survey was done using the Deep Locus and Iron Lady. She surveys all along the route where water depths and maneuverability allowed her. Flying the Iron Lady in such terrain asked the utmost concentration from the surveyors and skipper. All area where the Deep Locus could not acquire data, the Wind and MagCat were used to fill the data gaps as best she could. By combining the capabilities of the Deep Locus and the Iron Lady, with the Wind and MagCat, a patch-work of data was made to achieve full coverage within the survey corridor.
Survey operations were started on 28th November with Deep Locus operating within the Veerse Meer. Finishing the survey works before Christmas, the Deep locus was kept on stand-by until the nearshore works could begin on 2nd of January. On 9th of February the Deep Locus had finished her scope, and was demobilized.
The Deep Locus returned onto the project on 21st of August, working until 10th of October. Her works included additional archaeological areas, gaps in the data where buoys had to be moved, and non-ferrous UXO surveys in collaboration with MAPPEM Geophysics.
One day behind the Deep Locus, on 3rd of January the Wind started her survey works on both the Veerse Meer and on the tidal area offshore. With some inevitable weather delay she finished her survey on 25th of January.
Deep’s offshore survey vessel Breaker performed the UXO surveys further offshore. She started on 21st of February. The Breaker was on the project until May.