Tame the tide
Ensuring a safe and productive solution to providing electrical, water, and fuel connections to a jetty is challenging at the best of times. But when that jetty is floating in the harbour at Barrow-in-Furness with rough seas and an 11 metre tide, the problems are compounded.
The 90MW Barrow Offshore Wind Farm, developed by DONG Energy and Centrica, is located in the East Irish Sea approximately 7km south west of Walney Island, near Barrow-in-Furness. The wind farm consists of 30 3MW turbines covering an area of approximately 10km².
Installing energy chains was a trouble free operation. All the cabling and amenities were fitted into the track on the harbour side before it was swung into position and fastened to the pontoon. The length was set to accommodate the low tide position, approximately an 18 metre run. As the tide comes in and the pontoon rises, the flexible e-chain doubles back on itself.
In this way, the energy chain guides and protects the hoses and cables from the often violent movements of the pontoon as it rocks with the tide and is buffeted by the waves crashing into the harbour wall.
igus
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