Picture of the Week – Fair Gales for Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm project carried in by Collett & Sons Ltd

Heavy-haul transport specialists Collett & Sons has transported two 160Te shunt reactors over 8,000 kms, to the onshore substation site for the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm project, located 15.5 km off the Fife coast, jointly owned by EDF Renewables and the ESB.

Collett & Sons was contracted with the full scope of work providing a door-to-door service, including the project management, engineering and the transport of the two 160Te shunt reactors.

A year before deliveries commenced, Collett’s Consulting Department were contracted to undertake multiple surveys to find the most feasible route. This included all route surveys, swept path analysis reports, topographical surveys, bridge height surveys and wire cable height surveys. This resulted in Collett liaising with local authorities to temporarily remove street furniture and employing tree surgeons to remove obstructing foliage.

The shunt reactors were transported in three stages before arriving at the substation site.

Part two of the project is expected to take place in the coming weeks , when two 180Te super-grid transformers are due to be delivered to the wind farm site.

Since 1928, Collett has a wealth of experience transporting difficult and abnormal loads throughout the UK, Europe and worldwide. Their specialist fleet operates across depots in Halifax, Goole, the Port of Grangemouth, and most recently Collett (Ireland) Ltd in Dublin.