London Array has selected VisSim of Horten, Norway, to provide a marine coordination system for the first 630MW phase of London Array. VisSim’s system will enable London Array to manage its offshore maritime activities during construction of the wind farm from its construction management base at the Port of Ramsgate. VisSim’s advanced technology will provide a real-time management capability that will enable London Array to provide effective vessel management and the monitoring of offshore personnel.
VisSim provides maritime surveillance system solutions to offshore, coastal and port authorities using a range of leading-edge technologies. Within the offshore sector VisSim provides sea surveillance around the offshore oil platforms in the Norwegian North Sea and maritime surveillance and vessel coordination on nine other offshore wind farms across Europe.
VisSim’s managing director, Knut Kildal-Hansen, said: “VisSim is extremely pleased to have been awarded this contract, which provides our technology to one of the most important offshore wind farm projects in Europe today.”
VisSim’s sales and marketing director, Peter Eade, added: “For VisSim, this is our tenth offshore windfarm project and we are very pleased to reach this milestone through signing a contract with what will be the UK’s largest offshore wind farm. This clearly shows that VisSim’s marine coordination products are meeting the needs of wind farm operators and leading the way in this new and exciting market.”
Once phase one is operational it will deliver 630MW of electrical power to the UK grid.
Project director, Richard Rigg, said: “The first phase of London Array will comprise 175 turbines, supplying enough energy to supply over 470,000 homes. The wind farm will be located around 20km from the Kent and Essex coast in the outer Thames Estuary where a substantial amount of commercial shipping and other maritime activity takes place. London Array recognises that it is essential to set up effective management of all maritime activity around our construction site for maritime safety and are delighted that VisSim will be providing their well proven marine coordination system to the project.”