Wells-next-the-Sea 2008

From the Wells-next-the-Sea 2008 Calendar by Ashley Studios

Wells-next-the-Sea 2007

Video Wells-next-theSea Calendar 2007 by Ashley Studios

Sheringham Shoal Wind Farm

The wind farm, which will consist of 88 turbines, is planned to start production in 2011.

When fully operational, its annual electricity production is expected to be around 1.1TWh, enough energy to power around 220,000 UK homes.
Total investments are estimated at approximately NOK 10 billion.

Until now, the 315 MW Sheringham Shoal project has been owned 100% by StatoilHydro. Through an agreement, Statkraft will acquire 50% of
the shares in the project, thus becoming an equal partner with StatoilHydro.

Sheringham Shoal is already under construction and will be developed according to schedule, with StatoilHydro as the operator during the
construction phase. The Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm will be the most important wind farm project in both StatoilHydro’s and
Statkraft’s wind energy portfolios. The partnership and the decision to develop the project are a significant milestone in both companies’
ambitions in the field of offshore wind.

“Europe is facing massive growth in renewable capacity by 2020, and 50% of the growth is expected to come in wind power.
Statkraft is already Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy, and it has extensive experience of onshore wind power. The partnership
with StatoilHydro will take us into the offshore wind industry as well – which is in line with our core growth strategy and within the
investment plans already communicated to the market,” says chief executive Bård Mikkelsen of Statkraft.

Sheringham Shoal, between 17 km and 23 km off the coast of the town of Sheringham in northern Norfolk, will cover an area of 35 square
kilometres. Construction started summer 2009, and a gradual start-up of production is scheduled for 2011.

The Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm has received all the approvals needed for construction and operation.

Harbour Works Continue

The harbour works continue apace as the most recent photographs show. The pics were taken by my brother-in-law, Don Wilks whilst visiting Wells over the Christmas period.

I believe the dredger barge Kari Hege will commence dredging the channel this month, January 2010.

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More pics here

Wells Quay In The Snow

Snow arrived in Wells a week before Christmas with fresh snow fall each day. Looks nice to a distant observer but I’m sure not every one is pleased.

Update From Wells Harbour Master

Following my last post I contacted the Wells Harbour Master, Robert Smith, who replied almost immediately to my query about the harbour works bearing no resemblance to what was originally published. Below is am extract from his email response.

The new works going on down at the beach are coming together nicely so far, but please remember this is still a work in progress and will not look, when its finished in the Spring, like it does today, i.e. a building site. The sand batter (breakwater) we hope will vegetate within six months so hopefully will blend in as natural dunes. This is quite an important stage as the batter will help protect the area where the vessels will moor from easterly and southerly storms, as the Beach bank and the Lifeboat point to the north protects the area from the other directions.

The jetty and pontoons will be arriving early February and should be in place by the end of February and the first boats are expected to arrive end of March.

The dredger during the next week or two will be going to the shipyard in Gt. Yarmouth to have some modifications to the spudlegs. Once it returns mid-December, we will then start digging in the channel.

Work Continues On Outer Harbour

After seeing the proposals for the ‘new jetty’ at Wells-next-the-Sea I was under the impression that a finger pier was to be built out from the beach bank with floating pontoons running parallel to the bank about 30 meters from the bank. At least that is how it was shown in the artist’s impression published elsewhere online and shown below.

It is obvious that this is not the case and it now appears that an ‘outer harbour’ is being built. A considerable amount of work has been done, and a lot more to be done. The ‘outer harbour’ is being built to support the new Sheringham Shoal Wind Farm.

Wells Harbour Works

As can be seen from the pictures work is proceeding at a pace on the new harbour facility at Wells-next-the-Sea.

Wells-next-the-Sea Harbour Works

A good start has been made to work at Wells-next-the-Sea harbour in preparation for the support of the Sheringham Shoal Wind Farm. As can be seen from the pictures the efforts so far have concentrated on the new berths south of the lifeboat house. Not only has the Kari Hege been busy but there has been a lot of construction work from the land.

Not having visited the site I cannot add any more comments about this side of the work or display any pictures but I hope that you find the aerial pictures interesting.

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Pictures by Mike Page

Official Christening Of Kari Hege

A champagne christening for the dredging vessel Kari Hege working to improve access into Wells harbour was hailed a “significant moment” in the port’s history.

The 200-tonne barge “Kari Hege” began work on October 5 to deepen parts of the main channel in preparation for the £1bn Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farm, due to be built by the end of 2011.

It was named after Kari Hege Mørk, stakeholder manager for the Norwegian-owned energy company behind the project, who broke a champagne bottle over her namesake’s hull in traditional fashion.

The improved channel will allow longer tidal access times for service boats and crews maintaining the 88 turbines during their 50-year lifespan.

The dredger – comprising an excavator mounted on the motorised barge Kari Hege will work until March to level the channel to a low-tide depth of 1m, after which it will be regularly maintained. It uses GPS tracking to ensure the work is precise while sand and gravel is moved aside, but not taken away.

Spring Tide: Wells-next-the-Sea

A beautiful day at Wells-next-the-Sea with the high tide just lapping on to the quay with the marshes completely covered.

Wells Harbour Has Great Future

An historic agreement was signed by the Wells Harbour Commissioners and Scira Offshore Energy Ltd, the developer or the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm on 23rd June 2009.

The agreement confirms that Scira will use Wells Harbour as its operational base for the wind farm for a period of up to 50 years. As a result a new commercial jetty with pontoons will be constructed SW of the Lifeboat House. Added to this the channel from the new jetty to the harbour mouth will be deepened to allow greater access to the jetty by a longer tidal window. Continue reading