NIEUWEGEIN, The Netherlands, August 30, 2010/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ballast Nedam has signed a contract with A2SEA A/S for the use of the Heavy Lift Vessel (HLV) Svanen at the Anholt offshore wind farm in Denmark. A2SEA is providing the Danish energy company DONG Energy with the vessel for the installation of the foundations in this wind farm. DONG Energy will consequently make the HLV Svanen available to the contractor (who has yet to be chosen) that will supply and install the foundations. DONG Energy obtained the concession for the Anholt offshore wind farm this summer. The wind farm consists of 111 turbines, each with a capacity of 3.6 MW. The foundations consist of a tubular steel pile (known as a monopile), and a transition piece that connects the monopile to the wind turbine's tower. The HLV Svanen will commence operations on this project at the end of 2011, and the work will continue into the third quarter of 2012. Ballast Nedam has also entered into another contract with Walney Offshore Windfarms (DONG Energy and SSE) for the second quarter of 2011 to install monopiles using the HLV Svanen at the United Kingdom's Walney II offshore wind farm. Weighing an estimated 800 to 1000 tonnes each, the monopiles will be the heaviest ever installed at an offshore wind farm.
