The DEME NV construction company and the Port of Thyboron gave more than 700 people the opportunity to see the large installation vessel, Innovation, at close quarters, just before it began installing the large foundations for the Vesterhav Nord and Syd offshore wind farms in the North Sea.

On a Saturday during the February school holiday week in Denmark, the Port of Thyboron opened its quay facilities in the normally closed area of the port to the public while the large installation vessel, Innovation, was in port to load wind turbine foundations for the Vesterhav Nord and Syd offshore wind farms. Visitors had the opportunity to witness the preparations for installing foundations for an offshore wind farm, and to see first-hand the Port of Thyboron’s largest port expansion to date, consisting of 170,000 new square metres and the new Limfjordskaj III quay.

In collaboration with the Vattenfall offshore wind farm owner and the DEME construction company, the Port of Thyboron gave visitors a rare chance to view the project quay facilities in the closed area of Sydhavnen at the Port of Thyboron. Guided bus tours of Sydhavnen were held from 13:00 to 16:00 on Saturday, 18 February 2023.

Over 700 people took advantage of this unique opportunity to see the installation vessel up close, while preparations were being made for installation of the 77-metre-long and 622-tonne foundations for the Vesterhav Nord and Syd offshore wind farms. The many visitors – adults and children alike – got to witness the crane lifting the giant monopiles.

Innovation is the largest vessel to ever call at the Port of Thyboron. The heavy-cargo installation vessel is 42 metres wide and 147 metres long, and has its own 1500-tonne, 150-metre-tall crane. The vessel has a crew of 30-40 people with very diverse skills, ranging from the captain and navigator, to engineers and surveyors who position the monopiles precisely on the seabed. It takes 11 metres of water depth to get Innovation in port, and the Port of Thyboron just managed to achieve this in time for her to call at port on 16 February 2022.

There was great interest and many questions along the way from visitors, who greatly enjoyed getting a peek into the offshore wind energy industry, which many had driven a long way to experience.

Vattenfall, DEME and the Port of Thyboron were present to talk about the major installation project to take place over the spring, before the wind turbines themselves are installed on top of the heavy foundations. The installation vessel sailed out to install foundations in the North Sea the night after the visit.

In addition to experiencing Innovation at the quay, visitors had the opportunity to see the Port of Thyboron’s largest port expansion to date, comprising a new 220-metre-long quay for cargo and an additional 170,000 square metres of quayside land, bringing the port’s total capacity to 300,000 square metres, with ample space for offshore installation projects. The large stones to protect the foundations after installation were stored at the new quay during the visit. Visitors thus experienced both stone logistics and foundation installation for the Vesterhav Nord and Syd offshore wind farms, just before the installation work commenced.

It was an absolutely fantastic day, and the Port of Thyboron would very much like to thank visitors for their interest, their many good questions and being willing to make the trip to Thyboron on a cold February day.

Thanks for coming, it was a pleasure!