One of the giants of offshore engineering arrived in Dundee today — and made a suitably big impression.
The massive Asian Hercules III arrived at Port of Dundee at around 10.30am after making its way down the east coast from Aberdeen overnight.
It is involved in Swedish firm Vattenfall’s European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) project and is one of the world’s largest floating cranes.
The Asian Hercules is being used to carry wind turbine foundations from Peterhead to the EOWDC in Aberdeen Bay.
The 77 metre, 1,800-tonne steel jacket foundations are in Dundee after making their way by barge from Newcastle. They had been due to be transferred to Peterhead by the Asian Hercules III earlier this month but the operation had to be rescheduled due to disruption caused by the Beast from the East weather.
Port of Dundee manager David Webster said: “The Hercules is certainly a sight to see in Dundee and this is the largest crane vessel we have welcomed to our quayside measuring 106 metres long and 52 metres wide with a hook height of at least 120 metres.”
Adam Ezzamel, EOWDC project director at Vattenfall, earlier told EnergyVoice.com: “We are looking forward to the first of the 11 EOWDC foundations being delivered later this month and the Asian Hercules III is back in position in preparation for this.
“The arrival of the innovative steel jacket foundations – each weighing more than 1200 tonnes – is slightly later than expected because we want to guarantee safe delivery, particularly in light of recent weather conditions.”
Port of Dundee
The Port of Dundee is the most northerly port owned by Forth Ports and is one of the largest economic generators in the city of Dundee. The port is strategically located on the east coast of Scotland, midway between Aberdeen and the central belt, and lies on the north side of the sheltered Firth of Tay.
