With the summer season in the past, offshore construction of the South Fork Wind farm commenced this week.
Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind, a developer of the project, issued a mariners briefing on seabed preparation for the 12-turbine installation on Sept. 23. Included is the start of the clearing of boulders where the wind farm’s turbine foundations will be situated — approximately 35 miles off Montauk Point — and along cable routes, which must happen before the laying of the wind farm’s export cable and other connecting cables.
A remotely operated vehicle with a boulder pick, lights, and cameras will be used to move boulders of two feet in diameter and larger a short distance outside the cable corridors and foundation locations. The vessel from which the remote vehicle will be operated will start on the west end of the export cable route, in federal waters, and work east. This work is expected to continue into November.
As soon as the middle of this month, subject to weather conditions and equipment availability, a towed boulder plow will be used in areas of high boulder density, primarily in the area of the wind farm. It will clear boulders along an approximately 50-foot-wide corridor. The plow will be towed, 300 yards behind a vessel, at .25 knots. The vessel, according to Orsted, will not be able to deviate from its route once the plow is deployed.
“Fishing gear in these corridors risk being damaged by the plow and close coordination is vital,” according to the briefing. The plow will be used only in federal waters, three nautical miles from land.
Boulders will be moved immediately outside the cable route. “The boulder plow moves all bottom components in its path,” the briefing states. Paths will be made publicly available at the conclusion of operations.
Unlike previous survey work, “the area of the cable route is narrowly defined, and should be easy to avoid during the planned work,” according to the briefing. Orsted “will make every effort to inform the fishing community of the boulder clearance work, including individualized information.” The developer will deploy fisheries liaison personnel and possibly a scout vessel to reduce gear conflicts.
Mariners traveling through or fishing in the area have been asked to give a wide berth to vessels, which may be limited in their ability to maneuver while towing gear out to 300 meters.
Onshore construction, in Wainscott and along the export cable’s subterranean path to a new interconnection station off Cove Hollow Road in East Hampton, also continued this week. In Wainscott, a contractor began installing an access road on Beach Lane, where the wind farm’s export cable will make landfall, and along the Long Island Rail Road corridor.
Most work on Beach Lane was paused on Tuesday, however, because of inclement weather, a spokeswoman told The Star. Foundation installation and above and below-grade construction also continues at the new interconnection station. The contractor is to install a vault on Wainscott Stone Road next week.
The developers, Orsted and Eversource Energy, said residents should expect slight traffic delays and route detours for trenching across Daniel’s Hole Road and Stephen Hand’s Path as well as for vault installations within or adjacent to town roadways during work hours. Each detour is expected to be in place for approximately one week, depending on weather and unforeseen circumstances.
