Watch: Subhub Tidal Platform Deployment

Scottish engineering consultancy QED Naval has released a video footage of recently-deployed Subhub tidal platform leaving Belfast Harbour and arrival in Strangford Lough.

Subhub successfully completed the 50 nautical mile offshore passage from Belfast Harbour to Strangford Lough. The final stage of the departure was the approval from the Belfast Harbour Pilots.

The Pilot brought together all the contractors who included: Ian Coleman from Inyanga who were contracted as towing agents. Also included were the skippers of MTS Taktow, as the main tow vessel, Ferran & Sons Farset as the rear tow vessel and the licensed operators to handle the mooring lines on the D1 quayside. Final clarifications and adjustments were made with the departure plan and then the Pilot took control from that point forward.

Jeremy Smith, QED Naval’s managing director said:

“We are delighted with the performance of the Subhub during the deployment, which was not without its challenges, namely, the weather. The conditions experienced offshore reached 30 knot, near gale, wind gusts and over 2.0m significant wave height so they were far from ideal but underlines the capabilities of Subhub tidal platform and the commercial benefits and operational availability of this installation and recovery method for the through life support of tidal turbines”.

“The collaboration with Inyanga Tech as towing agents, Ferran and Sons and Cuan Marine worked very well and I wouldn’t hesitate to use them again.”

Richard Parkinson, Inyanga’s managing director said:

“The towing operation from Belfast to Strangford went well with the Subhub handling well under tow as expected from the analysis- this demonstrates that the device can be installed using low cost support vessels. We are very pleased to be providing support to this exciting technology.”

MTS Taktow proved itself to be the ideal towing vessel with a bollard pull of 18t and at reasonable cost despite being mobilised from Brixham, QED said.

Belfast Harbour Pilots requested that another vessel of equivalent bollard pull was used in combination with Taktow within the confines of Belfast Harbour. QED Naval selected Ferran’s Farset with a 14t bollard pull. Ferran’s had been helping QED Naval with the towing setup and specification over the last few months so this was an easy decision.

The 50 nautical mile passage was carried out at an average towing speed of 3 to 4 knots and took just over 11 hours. The successful completion of the passage validates the claims made by QED Naval about Subhub in terms of high operational availability and hence high deployment rates and reliable maintenance schedules for tidal projects underlining the commercial benefits and reduced cost of ownership.

Arrival in Strangford Lough

Subhub arrived in Strangford Lough around on Wednesday 16th January. The pilot from Cuan Marine joined the Taktow to guide them in over the Strangford Bar and through the Narrows on the flood tide.

The tow moved quickly through the Narrows at 4.5knots passing the MCT tidal turbine now partially decommissioned. It was reputed to have cost £5m+ to install and something similar to remove. This encapsulates the driving principal of Subhub tidal platform given that it cost just over £100,000 to deploy including load out, launch, planning consents (MCA, MWS, BHC), launch, towing, moorings and insurance.