Fugro awarded site investigation contracts for IJmuiden Ver

The investigations for IJmuiden Ver are the most extensive the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) has organised to date and the resulting offshore wind zone will generate 4 GW of renewable energy.

The contracts include seabed investigation, an extensive laboratory testing programme, and development of an integrated ground model.

Techniques such as the generation of synthetic cone penetration tests (CPTs) will be applied to create the geological ground model and the results will be used for future developers’ tender submissions for the 429-km² offshore wind zone.

The fieldwork, which comprises seabed CPTs, thermal conductivity tests, vibrocores and boreholes, will run from February to August 2021 and will be undertaken from Fugro’s dynamic positioning class 2 geotechnical vessels.

Several proprietary technologies will be used on the project, including the Seacalf Mk V Deepdrive coiled CPT system, assuring maximum penetration depth and optimum quality data over the full foundation depth, and the Wison Mk V Ecodrive downhole CPT and sampling tool for more robust Geo-data using environmentally friendly hydraulics.

RVO project manager Peter-Paul Lebbink said, “We are looking forward to working with Fugro to execute our largest geotechnical offshore campaign for RVO.

“All available soil measurement results will be integrated by Fugro into an advanced integrated 3D ground model adhering to the industry’s highest possible standards. This 3D ground model will form a solid basis for detailed engineering and will derisk the construction of the future IJmuiden Ver windfarms.”