By Steen H. Drue, Project Manager, A2SEA A/S

“Where there’s a team, there’s a way.” At least, that’s how the more traditional saying might have sounded if it had originated on the job at Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm in the Irish Sea. Actually, there’s not just one team involved, but several, all working together.

Clockwork-like coordination is the name of the game at Gwynt y Môr. While the project may be supported by some of the best project management tools money can buy, widespread teamwork is central to achieving smooth coordination – and it’s key to delivering the project on time and on budget.

Teamwork on a project like this doesn’t just mean the A2SEA team. Rather, it’s the extended team that encompasses the crews of SEA JACK and SEA WORKER, the crews of the two tug boats needed to pull and position each of the barges (that’s four tug boats in all), the site office team, the project team back at headquarters, the installation team from Siemens Wind Power on board the two big vessels, and last, but not least, the client RWE’s site team.

Working together in a variety of situations and installation contexts, all of these people manage to coordinate their actions so that the vessels can load wind turbine components, take provisions onboard the vessels, move in and out of port, get into position at the wind farm, install each turbine, and move to the next task – all in keeping (weather and tides allowing) with a strict project schedule.

When vessels dock, there’s often an impromptu meeting between various team members to sort out a few details. The client’s onboard team eats alongside our own team in the same mess. And the tug boat master and often first officer also take part in meetings aboard our vessels and in the site office. Recently, the client arranged a barbecue, inviting everyone to enjoy a roast hog set up outside the site office in a tent.

Of course, an installation project is a performance-oriented environment. So there’s a degree of friendly rivalry, too, between the crews of SEA JACK and SEA WORKER to be the best at what they do. The better each crew is at installing on time, entering and exiting port, and maintaining safety levels, the keener they are to make sure the other crew notices!

Photo above: The jackup barges SEA JACK and SEA WORKER are sharing the installation task for 160 Siemens 3.6MW turbines at Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm in the Irish Sea. Installation will continue throughout 2013 and into 2014 when the project is scheduled to be completed.

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