Wartime bombs, mines and torpedoes cleared from wind farm site in Moray Firth
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More than 70 unexploded bombs and other devices have been cleared from the site of a new wind farm being built in the Moray Firth.
Safe disposal of the unexploded ordnance (UXO) from two world wars – including mines, torpedoes and naval shells – was undertaken by Aberdeen company Eodex for the Moray West offshore wind farm.
The company said it used its Low Order Deflagration technique with a "100 per cent success rate and no high-order detonations occurring".
Deflagration is said to be much better for the environment and for marine mammals than traditional methods of disposal.
"This innovative technique, developed in the UK, demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing an environmentally low-impact solution to the disposal of unexploded ordnance," Eodex said.
The wind farm is being developed by Ocean Winds and will have 60 turbines generating a total capacity of 882 megawatts. The project is scheduled to reach full power by 2025.
In January, Eodex won a contract to investigate possible UXO items and to dispose of any that were confirmed.
Simon Morgan, chief executive officer at Eodex, said: “We are proud to bring the only government tested and environmentally proven technology to the renewable sector for Ocean Winds and the Moray West project.
"We have now safely and successfully deflagrated more targets than the rest of the UK industry put together so far this year, securing a safe environment for sea life and the subsea environment. We are immensely proud of the positive effect we have had and look forward to completing the project in the next month or so.”
Pete Geddes, Moray West project director at Ocean Winds, said: “Despite the challenges of UXOs on the Moray West site, we have been delighted with the service from Eodex and its innovative deflagration solution. It’s a great UK success story that we are proud to be supporting.
"We are developing our project amongst prized cetacean populations, so we have welcomed an approach to UXO that has avoided impacts on the whales and dolphins.”
The operations and maintenance base for the wind farm will be at the site of the former harbour office in Buckie. Construction began there in May,
The facility will include a workshop and warehouse as well as office and training facilities, creating 60 jobs.
