Germany’s Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has chosen Fraunhofer and VBW Weigt for geophysical investigation and hydrographic survey services within the geological preliminary exploration of the N-9 wind energy area.
The two companies have been awarded contracts at the tender that was launched in October for the sites within the German N-9 wind area in the North Sea: N-9.1, N-9.3 and N-9.4.
Fraunhofer will provide services for geophysical subsoil investigations in the three wind farm project areas. These include the measurement of a given profile grid using a sediment echo sounder and high-resolution multi-channel seismics. In addition, there is the processing of the recorded data sets, their evaluation and documentation, as well as the determination of suitable locations for the subsequent geotechnical explorations.
VBW Weigt will deliver the hydrographic survey work, which includes the area-wide measurement of the respective areas by means of fan echo sounders, side viewing sonar including ground truth, sediment echo sounder and magnetometer as well as video investigations by means of ROV. In addition, there is data processing, evaluation and documentation of the services, according to BSH’s invitation to tender.
The works at the N-9.1 site will commence in 2021, while N-9.3 and N-9.4 are to start undergoing these investigations the following year.