With the first power produced at Dogger Bank A, work continues on Dogger Bank B with the onshore substation transformers arriving on site. The delivery of four 255 te transformers to the site posed a challenge since the chosen Albert Dock in the Port of Hull was found to be unsuitable for the operation, threatening to throw the delivery off track. 

UK’s abnormal loads specialist, Allelys was brought in to transport the four transformers measuring 9.3m long, 4.2m wide and 4.8m, and install them in their final positions.

However, initial pre-works and engineering studies had suggested that Albert Dock would be unsuitable to accommodate the offload of the transformer units and that the project may be at risk of a significant setback. Allely’s engineering team had to develop a bespoke crane mat and load-spreading solution, to enable the lifting operations to proceed whilst adding vital protection to the quayside.

In order to successfully offload the vessel, Allelys rigged the LG1550 mobile crane to safely load the transformers onto a 12-axle SPMT, which transported the loads across the docks to a suitable transhipment area. The transformers were transshipped to Allelys’ Faktor 5.5 girder frame trailer, with 350te capacity, ready for transportation to the site.

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The girder frame transportation took place over four consecutive weekends. Moving one transformer at a time before going back to reload the next. Once each transformer arrived at site, each unit was installed using a combined approach of turntables, jacking and skidding systems, allowing Allelys to turn, move and install the transformers in their designated bay.

“This project was a great project to work on and the slick operation of delivering four transformers, to four different bays over four consecutive weekends shows just how experienced Allelys are at delivering power generation projects. We’re able to efficiently engineer and deliver solutions that meet the requirements of each individual project, whilst also minimising disruption for our clients” commented Jordan Heath, Project Manager at Allelys.