SMD delivers Hornsea Two pre-lay plough

The multi-function pre-lay plough will be used by Boskalis to install 380 km of export cables which will connect Hornsea Two’s offshore substation to the site’s onshore substation in Killingholme, Lincolnshire on the east coast of England.

Once complete, Hornsea Two will host an array of 165 wind turbines and will become the world’s largest offshore windfarm, generating 1.4 GW.

The pre-lay plough, named ‘Megalodon’ by Boskalis, benefits from features such as an active steering, multiple modes of operation, specialized share design and remote-control access.

SMD managing director Paul Davison said, “This is our third pre-lay plough delivered to date. Together with Boskalis we have developed innovations for this plough which reduce seabed impact and reduce vessel fuel consumption.”

The Megalodon can operate at a depth of up to 500 m and will be deployed form Boskalis’ offshore vessel, Boka Falcon.

Boskalis is hoping to complete the Hornsea Two cable-laying campaigns for 2020 in six months.