To ensure that the wind turbines operate to their maximum capacity, a programme of operation and maintenance is needed, and this requires turbine engineers to visit the wind farm daily.

 

When looking for an O&M base, Wells-next-the-Sea was the natural choice, being only 20 nautical miles from the Sheringham Shoal site. There was one key challenge however – its limited access due to tidal restrictions.

 

Working with the Wells Harbour Master and Commissioners, and following approval from all the relevant agencies and authorities, Scira developed a dredging initiative that has overcome these restrictions by deepening the harbour entrance channel. This extends the tidal window to provide almost 24 hour access to wind farm work vessels.

 

A new commercial outer harbour with pontoons has been constructed so that wind farm work vessels do not interfere with established port operations. A specially-constructed dredger – an excavator mounted on a barge with GPS tracking to ensure precision - is now used to maintain the depth of the channel at one metre at low tide. It is testament to the good co-operation between Scira and the Wells Harbour authorities that they chose to call the dredger the ‘Kari Hege’ after the Sheringham Shoal Stakeholder Manager, Ms Kari Hege Mork.

 

In February 2011 Scira was granted a lease by Norfolk County Council to use the former Wells Field Study Centre as a temporary Operations and Maintenance base. It now supports around 50 people involved in the intensive offshore construction operations which are now underway, and which will continue until early 2012 when the wind farm becomes fully operational.

 

Planning consent is currently being sought from North Norfolk District Council for the construction of a purpose designed Operation and Maintenance base on a site at Egmere, some 2 miles south of the town. If such consent is granted it is intended that this new environmentally friendly building will be ready for occupation by late 2012.

 

By establishing its hub in the town, the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm will help to ensure a viable future for the port and provide employment and other economic and social benefits to the area, whilst safeguarding its unique character and charm.

 

Aerial of the completed harbour at Buxton's Bight