"At 5 p.m. local time on Sunday, the operation was completed in Dubai. Then the topside was in place on the substructure and the necessary load was transferred to the docking pads. The operation has proceeded as planned and has been a success," affirmes Project Director Kjetil V. Jacobsen.
Dolwin Beta is built by the sub-contractor Drydocks World in Dubai. On Thursday last week, work started to jack up the 10,000 ton topside from a height of 1.8 metres to over 50 metres.
"It’s been quite a spectacular sight. Its dimensions are enormous, and you can’t easily tell from pictures how big it is," says Jacobsen. He is one of about 40 Aibel employees stationed in Dubai at the moment.
On Friday the dry dock was filled with water. The substructure and a barge were moved out. Later that day, the substructure was moved back into the dock. On Saturday the substructure was positioned under the topside. On Sunday the actual mating took place.
"Drydocks World and the subcontractor ALE, supported by Aibel's marine and structural departments, have carried out a controlled, safe and well-executed operation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire Dolwin Beta team for their efforts in reaching this important milestone," says Jacobsen.
The platform is now 70 metres tall. It is 74 metres wide and 99 metres long. The complexity of the operation has been underlined by the fact that Marine Warranty Surveyor has issued a total of four certificates to cover the various phases of the operation.
Dolwin Beta is a joint effort between Aibel and ABB. It will be in a large wind farm cluster in the German sector of the North Sea and convert alternating current from wind turbines to direct current.
Over 2,000 workers are now working on the platform for the subcontractor Drydocks World in Dubai. In the coming weeks the topside and substructure will be welded together. Aibel will continue to equip the platform, while ABB installs the power conversion equipment.
Published 09 December 2013
