Progress on the £18bn project to install two new nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point C is well underway. The site beside the Bristol channel is due to be in service in 2025, and WaveWalker 1 has been on site to support the initial stages of the development.

In order to deliver the necessary construction materials to the Hinkley site, a 500m long jetty is being built which will allow 80% of aggregates to be delivered via sea transport. The new jetty is being built in a very challenging environment, as the Bristol Channel has one of the highest tidal ranges in the world. However, the terrain and tidal conditions meant that traditional floating rigs and self-elevating working platforms (SEWPs) were not suitable.

This is where WaveWalker 1 provided the ideal, innovative solution. The 8-legged, self-contained walking jack-up was able to provide a secure, effective platform from which to construct the jetty. Walking a total of 8km during the project, WaveWalker 1 was perfectly suited to navigate the 13m tides that rise and fall in the channel.

WaveWalker 1 undertook the pile installations from the top of the beach down to the intertidal area.

Time and tide really did wait for no man. The independent walking ability meant that work was able to continue around the clock, regardless of the state of the tide, as the vessel could walk on land up the beach making the relocation easy for the installation of the piles at the top of the beach. On site there are areas with a protected type of seaweed – Corallina Officinalis. WaveWalker 1 was able to work carefully around the foreshore stepping around the ecological sensitive areas.

For this project we were able to fit the vessel with af ull drilling spread, pile gate, and 32 man accommodation units, effectively transforming the platform into a walking construction island. It’s been fantastic to have been part of this exciting development, and to see WaveWalker 1 supporting the future of energy production in the UK.

A huge congratulation to Nick Puttick who has received full accreditation by IJUBOA (International Barge Operators Association) as a Jack Up Bargemaster for WaveWalker 1.

WaveWalker BV have now received confirmation following the visit of the warranty surveyor, Mr. Christopher Mallett of LOC, that Mr. Puttick reaches the required IJUBOA standards to be accredited as a Jack Up Bargemaster whilst working for a WaveWalker BV vessel and in full charge of the jack up barge WaveWalker 1.

The IJUBOA assessment of Bargemaster Competence is currently the only scheme available that accredits the skills and knowledge of working bargemasters. The assessment is made against set of criteria designed by IJUBOA in consultation with barge operating companies and industry experts.

It takes the form of a one day on site assessment by a competent person approved by IJUBOA. The assessor will use a mixture of observation, questioning and discussion with both the candidate and their line manager to decide whether the master can be deemed competent to operate the barge safely. If this is the case the assessor will endorse Section 5a of the IJUBOA Official Logbook and issue a formal report to the barge master, their employer and IJUBOA. Mr Puttick’s IJUBOA Blue Book has now been duly stamped and signed by Mr Mallett on behalf of IJUBOA.

WaveWalker BV would like to congratulate Nick on receiving this well deserved accreditation.

The port of Eemshaven, on the mouth of the Eems River estuary. This area has a huge potential for development and the jack up barge WaveWalker 1 is making this development possible.

To be able to run the Gemini offshore wind park facility two Gemini export cables have to be run under two existing submarine cables.

Due to strong currents and very shallow water depths at this location a very special vessel would be required to carry out the horizontal drilling operations for the two ducts separated by 25 metres. The WaveWalker 1 is the ultimate ‘walk to work’ vessel and is fitted with 8 jack-up legs for this purpose. ‘Walking’ is made possible with a 2-phase jacking and skidding sequence. Dependant on weather and seabed conditions the vessel can reach a possible speed of 40 metres per hour.

For the current operation at Gemini the moon pool has been covered over and a unit has been installed for the horizontal drilling operation and the deck space is filled with all the associated equipment. The drilling operation is managed by one man and a remote control unit because everything has been made mechanical. This operation will be completed during spring 2015 with the exact timing dependent upon the weather conditions.

The WaveWalker 1 is a versatile and unique vessel for work in conditions where other vessels would have great difficulty. This is a simple statement that covers a wide range of activities, conditions and properties, one of which is ‘walking to work’.