Tekmar Awarded Burbo Bank Extension Cable Protection Contract

Market-leading subsea cable protection specialist, Tekmar Energy, has been awarded a major contract to provide its sixth generation TekLink mechanical latch systems at the Burbo Bank Extension offshore wind farm on the north-west coast of England.

Tekmar will provide site operator DONG Energy with 65 systems including one export and nine bellmouths for the 32-turbine, 258MW Liverpool Bay development with Tekmar supplying its sixth generation TekLink system for the first time. The installation work is due to start in early 2016.

The installation contract is with dredging and marine construction specialist, Jan de Nul (JDN), and will see Tekmar working with DONG Energy for the sixth time, underpinning the company’s industry reputation as the partner of choice.

James Ritchie, chief executive officer at Tekmar, said: “Burbo Bank Extension is an important contract for Tekmar for a number of reasons. It is the first project of its kind to use Vesta 8 MW turbines and to implement the sixth generation of TekLink which reinforces our track record for continually developing steadfast products that are meeting the market demand for more efficient and cost-effective solutions.

“It also builds on our relationship with JDN in that while it will be the first time we will have worked with them on a major offshore windfarm array cable project, we were recently involved together on an oil & gas project in Qatar. Tekmar’s TekSpace cable crossing solution was utilised in Qatar to protect two power cables as they crossed over existing seabed infrastructure in 21 places. We have also conducted training for JDN offshore personnel in best practices for CPS pull-in, using our TekTower testing and training facility.

“In addition to this, DONG Energy has committed much of the production work for Burbo Bank to the UK supply chain particularly Teesside where all Tekmar’s manufacturing work will be carried out from our new facility and headquarters at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.”

The Burbo Bank Extension Offshore Wind Farm is located 8km off the UK coast in Liverpool Bay and once complete, it will be capable of generating clean energy to power approximately 180,000 homes. The development is an extension to the existing and operational Burbo Bank offshore wind farm and is located west of the operational wind farm in Liverpool Bay.

With more than 30 years’ experience, Tekmar is a market leader in the design, manufacture and supply of subsea cables, umbilicals and flexible protection systems for the renewable energy and oil & gas industry.