12 pontoon piles Wilhelmshaven

DATE: February 5, 2025

12 PONTOON PILES WILHELMSHAVEN

In June 2024, Ballast Nedam successfully installed 12 access pontoon piles at Wilhelmshaven in northern Germany using the CAPE VLT-160 and a S-150 impact hammer. The entire project was completed in less than two weeks.

At Wilhelmshaven pier, a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) is permanently moored. This unit receives liquefied natural gas (LNG) from tankers worldwide and converts it back into gas. To support this process, a floating jetty is currently under construction.

Ballast Nedam installed the 12 piles to guide the floating access platform, allowing it to adapt to tidal variations of approximately five meters.

Each pile, measuring 44 meters in length and weighing 80 tons, was transported by barge from Rotterdam to Wilhelmshaven. A gripper frame was used to position the pontoon piles at sea. The installation process involved pre-piling with the CAPE VLT-160, followed by final placement using the impact hammer.

Jan de Vries of Ballast Nedam highlighted the collaborative effort behind the project: “A job like this is always a team effort. While we engage external partners, success depends on seamless coordination. This project was a great example of that. We began mobilisation in mid-June, and just 10 days later, we delivered the project on schedule. Everything went exactly as planned.”

Find more project details below or contact Niels van den Heuvel for more information.


Application details

Application
FRSU pontoon
Pile type
Pontoon piles

PILE DETAILS

Pile type
Pontoon piles
Pile model
Standard
Pile length
44m
Pile weight
80t
Pile wall thickness
50mm
Pile diameter top
1.5m
No. of piles
12

PROJECT DETAILS

Period
Jun ’24
Sea
Waddenzee
Country
Germany
Location
Wilhelmshaven in northern Germany
Market
Oil and Gas
System/end usage
Floating access platform
Operator or end customer
FSRU Wilhelmshaven
Installation contractor
Ballast Nedam
Type of vessel
Jack-up barge
Name of vessel and owner
Buzzard, DEME Group

Main Reasons for solution choice

FAST PENETRATION

CONTROLLED INSTALLATION

EXTRACTION POSSIBLE

SELECTED EQUIPMENT

CAPE VLT-160

Equipment configuration
CAPE VLT-160
Eccentric moment
160kgm
Max. line pull
264t

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