Seaway7 has put the first inter-array cable in place at Ørsted's Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm in the UK North Sea. The operation opens a major cable installation campaign at the 2.9 GW site. With the first run completed, the project's subsea construction scope moves into its active offshore phase.
Inter-array cables make up the collection network of an offshore wind farm, linking individual turbines to one another and to the offshore substation that gathers their output for export to shore. Installing that network is one of the defining marine operations of an offshore wind build-out, calling for cable-lay capability, burial and protection equipment, and careful route planning across the turbine layout. How quickly and reliably such campaigns proceed often influences the wider construction schedule, because turbine commissioning and energisation rely on the array network being ready.
Hornsea 3, rated at 2.9 GW, is being developed by Ørsted in the UK North Sea. Seaway7's campaign will continue across the site as the array network is built out around the turbine positions. Each cable run has to be positioned, laid and buried so that it is protected from external interference over its service life. For the installation contractor, the work means a sustained offshore presence, with vessels and crews committed over an extended period.
For the wider industry, the start of cable installation at Hornsea 3 is another indicator of activity in North Sea offshore wind, where developers and contractors are working through a pipeline of large-capacity projects. Campaigns of this scale sustain demand for installation vessels, cable supply and subsea services. Progress at the site will be watched by suppliers and by peers planning comparable installation scopes.
Source: Offshore Engineer
