The decom partnership between Thompsons of Prudhoe and the Port of Blyth has successfully completed a 516-tonne tandem lift onto the quayside using crawler cranes, in what was the port’s largest heavy lift to date.
Port of Blyth was selected as the location for the landing of a 2MW SR2000 floating tidal turbine on behalf of Orbital Marine Power.
Thompsons of Prudhoe has commenced the dismantling and waste disposal of the turbine. Much of the structure will now be broken down for recycling, with key components and elements of the prototype turbine being returned to Orbital, to allow them to carry out engineering inspections to support the development and manufacturing of the new 2MW O2 turbine which will be commissioned early next year.
Nick Shilling, Managing Director of Thompsons of Prudhoe, said: “We are delighted to be given the opportunity to decommission the SR2000 on behalf of Orbital. This project gives us a strong platform to demonstrate and promote our capabilities to the offshore industry for all future onshore dismantling and waste disposal requirements”.
Alan Todd, Port Director of Port of Blyth, said: “Completing the largest project lift the Port has ever planned and executed highlights the skill and competence of the Port of Blyth’s engineering and operations teams. Although we have a wealth of experience in relation to heavy project lifts, the tidal turbine brought its own challenges and required exceptional planning and a well-coordinated operation. The project also highlights both the strength and potential of our new decom partnership with Thompsons of Prudhoe.”
This project comes hot on the heels of the joint £1m investment from Port of Blyth and Thompsons of Prudhoe in enhancing the fully licenced decommissioning facility at the Port.
Thompsons of Prudhoe are a leading demolition and decommissioning contractor having been named as #34 in the World’s Top 100 Demolition Contractors by Demolition & Recycling International (DR&I). The Port of Blyth are regarded as one of the UK’s leading offshore energy support bases and is home to some of the world largest offshore and renewable energy firms.
Source: Port of Blyth
