The German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH – Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie) has selected two companies, Fugro and Ramboll, to carry out geotechnical investigations of the undersea areas in terms of the development of future offshore wind farm areas.
The Dutch company Fugro, specializing in geological research, announced in May that it had won a tender for many years of geotechnical research of areas where offshore wind farms will be developed. The activities are expected to last 3 years in three stages. They will be carried out in five areas within the Exclusive Economic Zone of Germany (EEZ) [AWZ – Deutsche Ausschlieβliche Wirtschaftszone], which include 86 locations. The services provided by Fugro will consist of obtaining geotechnical data using specialized vessels for geotechnical drilling and seabed research, followed by laboratory testing and reporting. In May 2021, the first phase of the research began. The results of the laboratory tests will be used by future wind farm developers to prepare their offers.
In turn, Nadja Skopljak reports in offshor-energy.biz that another company chosen by BSH is the Danish company Ramboll, which specializes in engineering and consulting services for the energy sector and services in the field of environmental protection. Ramboll will collaborate on geotechnical research. Fugro is to carry out the main research, Ramboll will supervise and control it, and in limited areas also the Federal Institute for Hydroengineering (BAW – Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau). According to media reports, Ramboll was to begin operations in mid-June 2021.
Upon completion of the research, a geotechnical data report (gDR) will be prepared with the developed 3D geological model, which will include all available geophysical and geotechnical data.
