Free hanging monopile installation test

FREE HANGING MONOPILE INSTALLATION TEST IN THE NETHERLANDS

In 2018, the CAPE VLT-320 Tandem was used to upend and install a 6.5 meter diameter monopile with a length of 30.4 meter at the Maasvlakte 2 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The pile was successfully upended and driven to final penetration. The pile needed to be stable for a test of a new type of impact hammer which would have needed a special installation frame otherwise.

Free hanging from the Matador 3 from Bonn & Mees the CAPE VLT only needed a net driving time of 15 mins to get the 330 tonnes weighing monopile to a penetration depth of 24 meter.

Without any other tool, gripper or installation frame the pile ended up at 0.05° verticality which was well within the set tolerance. This project showed how the verticality could still be corrected even at final penetration.

Application details

Application
Monopile installation
Pile type
Monopiles
Penetration
24m

PILE DETAILS

Pile type
Monopiles
Pile length
30.4m
Pile weight
330t
Pile wall thickness
60mm
Pile diameter
6.5m
No. of piles
1

PROJECT DETAILS

Period
2018
Country
The Netherlands
Location
Maasvlakte 2, Rotterdam
Market
Offshore Renewables
System/end usage
Test pile
Operator or end customer
Fistuca
Installation contractor
Fistuca
Type of vessel
Floating sheerleg
Name of vessel and owner
Matador 3, Bonn & Mees
Mode
Anchors

Related challenges

challenge

Pile installation predictions

challenge

Pile installation efficiency

The challenges we’re facing today is our drive to come up with great ideas, solutions and support.

Main Reasons for solution choice

UPENDING, LIFTING, DRIVING IN SINGLE OPERATION

NO NEED FOR GRIPPER OR INSTALLATION FRAME

VERTICALITY MONITORING DURING DRIVING

SELECTED EQUIPMENT

CAPE VLT-320

Equipment configuration
CAPE VLT-320 Tandem
Eccentric moment
640kgm
Max. line pull
1,000t

vibro
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technology

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