SSE's Beatrice offshore wind farm continues to operate but staff observe self-distancing rules
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THE Beatrice offshore wind farm is continuing to operate during the coronavirus pandemic but working arrangements have been adapted to ensure the safety of staff.
Operations manager Martin Sutherland outlined the actions taken by SSE Renewables to enable Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd (Bowl) to run. Situated off the east Caithness coast, it is Scotland's largest offshore wind farm and the fourth biggest in the world.
Mr Sutherland said: "At this time of year, we’re just about to head into the servicing window of spring and summer which would normally see up to four crew transfer vessels [CTVs] leaving Wick each day to go to the site to carry out maintenance at the turbines, with crews of up to 12 on each vessel.
"However, at the moment, the team is focusing on work essential to keeping the turbines spinning so only one vessel is leaving daily.
"CTVs are relatively small vessels – so, to ensure we can maximise social distancing, crews of 12 have been reduced to crews of six to allow a safe distance between individuals."
Mr Sutherland explained that the crews wait to transfer to the turbines by forming a queue with spaces of at least two metres between them.
"To ensure the safety of our workers still going offshore, we have introduced health screening measures, and personal protective equipment is available on the boat, if needed. On days when the weather turns out to be too bad to sail, the teams are stood down and head straight back home."
Mr Sutherland added: "Our operations and maintenance base in Wick, where I am usually based, normally has around 50 people working out of it.
"Just now, during the coronavirus outbreak, we are running with only essential control room employees – two members of staff at a time. The site is also a meeting place for technicians before they head offshore, but the teams are observing guidelines and maintaining an acceptable distance from one another.
"The rest of us are able to work from home, keeping in contact via regular Skype meetings. But we remain on call if required to head safely to site.
"For those working in the control room, they have their own dedicated access and egress areas and separate welfare facilities. There are also strict hygiene controls in place for shared areas such as the control room desk.
"It’s a very strange and unprecedented time, but we’re all helping one another through and are all very proud to be playing our part in keeping Beatrice turning."
Bowl consists of 84 turbines, producing enough renewable energy to power up to 450,000 homes each year. The site has been running for almost a year now, providing low carbon power to the UK’s energy mix.
