A 100-ton cable for the Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm has arrived at the Port of Rosyth.
The spare export cable was delivered to Rosyth by the Prysmian Powerlinks’ cable enterprise, a cable laying vessel.
It was then spooled from the vessel, along a cable highway and onto a purpose-built carousel.
The cable will be stored on the carousel at the Port of Rosyth for a minimum of five years.
Owned by Forth Ports, the Fife port will provide secure storage and warehousing for all the spare onshore and offshore export cables required for the wind farm.
The port will store the equipment initially for the construction period of Neart na Gaoithe.
That could potentially extend to the 25-year operation life of the wind farm.
The 100-ton cable follows the arrival last summer of one of the world’s largest offshore construction vessels.
NnG is using now using three of the Scottish port operator’s facilities for construction of the project.
Its marine hub is based at the Port of Dundee while the Port of Leith is operating as the project’s marine logistics base for pile casings.
NnG, jointly owned by EDF Renewables and ESB, will supply enough low carbon electricity for around 375,000 homes.
It has a capacity of about 450MW of low carbon energy.
The offshore wind farm will offset over 400,000 tonnes of Co2 emissions each year
Long-term role for Rosyth in NnG project
NnG project director Matthias Haag said: “The Port of Rosyth will provide secure warehousing and quayside storage within close proximity to the site of the wind farm.
“This partnership with Forth Ports is further evidence that NnG will use the Scottish supply chain wherever possible.
“Since starting offshore construction of NnG in August last year the Port of Leith has been operating as our marine logistics base for the pile casings.
“The Port of Dundee is where we will assemble all 54 turbines before they are installed on site.
“We’re really excited that the Port of Rosyth will also now have a long-term role in the project.”
Prysmian Group’s project director for NnG Massimo Galletta said the company was “very proud” to be part of the project.
He welcomed the opportunity to use the firm’s state-of-the-art cable technology to move the 100-ton cable to Rosyth.
Port of Rosyth senior port manager Derek Knox said: “We are pleased that the Port of Rosyth is being used for the next 25 years as secure long-term quayside storage and warehousing.
“Rosyth will also provide short-term construction project support for NnG.
“Around our business, we are also playing a key role in supporting the NnG project at our ports in Leith and in Dundee.”