One of the most technologically advanced offshore construction jack-up ships in the world has been undertaking a heavy lift job at Stornoway .
The two-year-old, 482ft long MV Innovation was loading a huge weather station structure at the Arnish fabrication yard today.
Its destination is the West of Dutton Sands windfarm off Cumbria in the Irish Sea.
The weather station will monitor windspeeds around the 108 turbines at the Scottish Renewables and Dong Energy joint renewable 389MW project which will generate green electricity for more than 300,000 UK households.
Loading at Stornoway is taking place between low tides. A monopile structure was loaded on the rising tide at lunchtime and the ship anchored in Glumaig Bay until high water tonight when she prepared to load the met station’s deck.
The German-owned Innovation was built in Poland in 2012 to construct and maintain offshore wind farms, oil and gas facilities.
The powerful main deck 213ft long Liebherr crane which revolves round the starboard after leg has been described as groundbreaking as it can lift a whacking 1,500tonnes.
Given the crane’s huge dimensions, Liebherr had to alter the facilities of their production plant in Rostock, Germany, to manufacture it.
Her four legs can extend to a maximum of 213ft to lift the vessel out of the water to create a stable platform for heavy lifts.