The large lift boat that is conducting geotechnical survey work off the ocean beach at the end of Beach Lane in Wainscott is to move closer to shore on Wednesday evening, a spokeswoman for the developers of the proposed South Fork Wind farm said.
The Laredo Brazos, a barge that can stand out of the water, arrived offshore early on Sunday and will be positioned 780 feet from shore for two to three days, said Meaghan Wims, the spokeswoman for Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind and Eversource Energy, which are jointly developing the 15-turbine installation to be situated approximately 35 miles off Montauk, as well as other offshore wind farms.
Soil borings are being taken 780 feet, 1,470 feet, and 2,160 feet from shore, with each boring anticipated to take two to three days to complete.
The developers have identified the beach at the end of Beach Lane as the preferred site to land the wind farm’s export cable. Borings and measurements of the sea floor began on Monday. These, Ms. Wims previously told The Star, will support the final design of the wind farm's transmission cable.
Weather permitting, the vessel is anticipated to leave the area before Nov. 26, Thanksgiving Day, and move to a location off Smith Point County Park. There, it is to collect data for Sunrise Wind, a larger wind farm proposed by Orsted and Eversource.
The Coast Guard is expected to board the Laredo Brazos for a routine inspection in the coming days, Ms. Wims said.