DeepOcean Bags Western Link Trenching Contract

DeepOcean UK, a subsidiary of DeepOcean Group Holding BV, has been awarded a significant contract, for trenching services on the Western HVDC Link project. The contract was awarded by Prysmian Group.

DeepOcean’s scope of work includes pre-lay survey, pre-lay grapnel run, post-trench survey and trenching of over 560km of HVDC cable in water depths up to 165m.

DeepOcean will utilize its PCP2 power cable plough to trench approximately 425km of cable, which will be deployed from the Go Pegasus vessel, chartered by DeepOcean. Jet Trenching of approximately 135km of cable will be performed from one of DeepOcean’s permanently mobilized trenching support vessels. Offshore works will commence in the second half of 2014, with campaigns continuing into 2015 and through to 2016.

“We are delighted to be awarded this major subsea contract, the largest in DeepOcean UK’s history. This award highlights our position as a leading contractor of trenching services for long length cable projects” says Tony Inglis, DeepOcean UK Managing Director. “Our large portfolio of advanced trenching assets was a key enabler to win this work, with both cable ploughing and jet trenching being performed. This project also secures backlog growth for DeepOcean and demonstrates the trust that customers place in us, to perform complex multi-year projects”, Tony continued.

About Western Link:

The Western Link is a £1 billion construction project being delivered through a joint venture between National Grid and ScottishPower Transmission. A new high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable will run more than 400km, mostly under the sea, to bring renewable energy from Scotland to homes and businesses in England and Wales. A contract for the construction of the Western Link has been let to the Siemens and Prysmian consortium. Prysmian Group is responsible for the cable installation work, including all preparations and reinstatement. Siemens is responsible for building and commissioning converter stations at each end of the cable, at Hunterston in Scotland and Deeside in Wales, where the electricity will be converted between direct current and alternating current for onward transmission.