Ordtek Provides UXO Advice to innogy for Triton Knoll OWF

Ordtek has been contracted to provide specialist unexploded ordnance (UXO) risk management advice ahead of the construction of innogy’s Triton Knoll offshore wind farm.

Having previously worked with innogy to provide UXO risk management for the Galloper offshore wind farm to the south of Triton Knoll, Ordtek will now apply its expertise to the site of the 857 megawatt (MW) wind farm, to be built off the coast of Lincolnshire.

To date, Norfolk-based Ordtek has provided desk-based research including studying the military history of the area for naval conflicts, aerial bombing and munition dumping sites.

It has also completed a geophysical data interpretation of the 145 km2 seabed area to identify the targets which have the greatest probability of being UXO, such as unexploded bombs, mines and munitions. These targets will be investigated and cleared by UK-based James Fisher Marine Services (JFMS), with Ordtek continuing to provide consultancy services throughout.

Lee Gooderham, director at Ordtek, said: “This is an extremely complex project as the area we are investigating is a site bigger than the city of Manchester. Together with Triton Knoll we are using the latest techniques and expertise to identify any obstructions on the seabed which have the potential to be wartime UXO and allow the construction to be planned to avoid or mitigate these threats.” 

Julian Garnsey, project director for Triton Knoll and innogy, said: “I’m very pleased to be able to welcome Ordtek on to the Triton Knoll project, as we continue to gear up for offshore construction in early 2020. Successful offshore site clearance is very important to our being able to deliver this nationally significant infrastructure project safely, and on time. It’s therefore great to see that a regional company is at the heart of this work and able to demonstrate the kind of expertise that makes the UK a world leader in offshore wind delivery.” 

Located 32km off the Lincolnshire coast, Triton Knoll is the largest offshore wind farm currently in construction by innogy. It will consist of 90 turbines, two substations and over 100km cabling.