First Subsea, part of the First Tech Group based in Aberdeen, has confirmed its secured the contract with Spanish developer and construction company Cobra Group to provide platform mooring connectors (PMCs) for the Kincardine Offshore Windfarm.
The PMCs will be used to connect the semi-submersible platform to mooring lines at a water depth of 45 metres-143 metres. The connector will allow the mooring lines to be pre-laid on the seabed, prior to the arrival of the wind turbine structure. Once the structure is in place, the end of the mooring line will be collected from the seabed anchor and connected into the PMC located on the platform’s hull. The connector will then automatically engage and provide an efficient and strong mooring system. The Kincardine Offshore floating windfarm is a 50 MW pilot project 15km off the coast, south of Aberdeen. It began generating renewable power in September last year with the installation of the first turbine. The PMC technology eliminates the need for mooring hardware such as fairleads, sheaves, chain tensioners and chain lockers. The project will be completed next year with the installation and commissioning of an additional five 9.5 MW turbines each installed on a floating substructure.
