Thompsons of Prudhoe Ltd Dismantle Floating Tidal Turbine with Port of Blyth and Mammoet

The Thompsons of Prudhoe and Port of Blyth decomm partnership in collaboration with heavy lift specialists Mammoet have successfully completed a 516-tonne tandem lift onto the Blyth quayside using crawler cranes, in what was the port’s largest heavy lift to date.

The Northumberland port was selected as the location for the landing of a 2MW SR2000 floating tidal turbine on behalf of Orbital Marine Power Ltd (Orbital).

Thompsons of Prudhoe have 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 decommissioning 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.

Source Port of Blyth