Construction of a 30 metre-long, purpose-built floating crew transfer pontoon in Aberdeen Harbour’s Albert Basin has been successfully completed by Swedish energy firm Vattenfall. The 180m² pontoon has been specially built on Commercial Quay West as part of a 24-year agreement with the Harbour Board and can accommodate up to three crew transfer vessels at any one time.It will initially be used to support construction of Vattenfall’s European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) and then as a marine support base for its on-going operations and maintenance (O&M) programme. Crew movements will peak during the commissioning period, the operations activity and in the summer for planned maintenance. The 30 metre crew transfer pontoon comes complete with a dedicated secure access ramp leading to a 26 metre long bridge section for safe access in and out. Secured by three 24 metre long, 914 mm diameter steel piles anchored into the seabed, it is outfitted with a lighting array to facilitate 24-hour operation as well as mains power and safety and survival equipment.
