News
05-23-2008
Contract signed for helicopter transport supply
WIKING Helikopter Service GmbH to fly for BARD Group
The BARD Group has concluded a contract with WIKING Helikopter Service GmbH for helicopter logistics for the planned “BARD Offshore 1” wind farm. The parties involved have announced this is in a joint statement to the press. Under the contract, WIKING will undertake both the transport of personnel and materials from the mainland to the offshore wind farm about 100 km north-west of the island of Borkum and safety training in helicopter and winching operations for BARD personnel.
The BARD Group, based in Emden, will from spring 2009 be commencing the installation of a total of 80 wind power generators of 5 MW class. A permanently manned residential platform in the wind farm will look after servicing and repairs. The home of the WIKING helicopter fleet will be Mariensiel near Wilhelmshaven. The company will also operate a take-off and landing station near Norddeich.
“We were persuaded by WIKING’s many years of offshore experience,” is how Jörg Fangmann of BARD Service GmbH explains the decision to go for the Mariensiel-based air transport specialist. WIKING has demonstrated its reliability since its foundation in 1975, with over 90,000 accident-free flying hours and almost 40,000 winching manoeuvres. Air operations can be carried out round the clock, and the helicopters can be set to work in winds of up to Force 11.
Nils Herrmann, Managing Director of WIKING Helikopter Service GmbH has this to add: “We are looking forward to putting our offshore experience at the service of one of the biggest wind farm operators.” WIKING Helikopter Service GmbH has five helicopters of type Sikorsky S-76, each of which has space for a maximum of 12 passengers. Two further helicopters of the same type are already under order and should help the fleet in supplying the offshore wind farm. All the machines can handle bad weather and are fitted with special rescue equipment for emergency landings at sea. Among their tasks are pilot transport in the German Bight and supplying the oil and gas industry platforms. WIKING also works for the German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies in Cuxhaven as an air-support component of rescue missions at sea, and carries out safety training for the German coastal fire services. The Sikorsky S-76 has two drives and a range of almost 700 kilometres.
The BARD Group has already placed an order with the Abeking & Rasmussen shipyard in Lemwerder near Bremen for a 26 m working boat to supply and provision its offshore wind farm. The service tender with so-called SWATH technology has a specially shaped stern which maintains relatively calm conditions even in rough seas and high waves. It is particularly intended for bringing maintenance teams and materials out from the residential platform to the individual wind power generators. The “BARD Offshore 1“ wind farm is due to be on-grid by the end of 2010.