DNV GL, an independent energy experts and certification body, has awarded Vattenfall with a final statement of compliance for its offshore accommodation platform that hosts 50 operation and maintenance staff working on the 288 MW DanTysk offshore wind farm, in the German North Sea.
Because the offshore wind farm is located 90 kilometers away from the nearest harbor, project developer Vattenfall designed the offshore structure to enable staff to live independently close to the wind farm without any outside support for up to three weeks.
As required for all German offshore sites, the certification was carried out according to the requirements of the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH). DNV GL says its project team worked closely with BSH and Vattenfall to provide a tailored certification approach to ensure the highest level of safety regulations are being met.
According to DNV GL, the offshore wind accommodation platform set special challenges to the certification process. The static design of the accommodation platform is very similar to that of an offshore substation; however, the interior design of the construction is substantially different, providing living space comparable to a hotel environment.
Throughout the certification process, DNV GL worked in close coordination with Vattenfall, focusing not only on the structural aspects of the platform, but also on all safety aspects covering fire protection, electricity supply, escape and evacuation routes.
“Certifying the first offshore accommodation platform was a challenging and exciting task, and thanks to the excellent collaboration with Vattenfall, we are delighted that we can issue a certificate that confirms the high safety and security standard of the platform,” says Jana Gehrmann-Vorbau, project manager for renewables certification at DNV GL – Energy.
“Our comprehensive experience in certifying offshore substations was certainly beneficial. The development of a tailored certification approach was needed, as we ventured into new territory of hotel and hospital-like features in the notoriously harsh offshore environment,” adds Fabio Pollicino, global service line leader for project certification at DNV GL – Energy.
Photo courtesy of DNV GL: Philipp Degenhardt, team lead project certification and interface management (Vattenfall); Fabio Pollicino, global service line leader for project certification (DNV GL – Energy); Christof Huß, site manager for DanTysk offshore wind farm (Vattenfall); Jana Gerhmann-Vorbau, project manager in renewables certification (DNV GL – Energy); Stefan Baars, head of section in concrete structures and geotechnica (DNV GL – Energy); Mike Wöbbeking, head of certification body (DNV GL – Energy); and Johannes Kammer, head of wind turbine engineering (Vattenfall).
