Tow & Deployment to Galway Bay
Following a successful mooring installation at the Smartbay site, Atlantic Towage Ltd. (http://www.atlantictowage.com/) successfully towed out the WEC from Foynes Harbour, around loop head, and into Galway Bay overnight.
The on-board camera, and 3g Connection, provided visual monitoring before it got dark:
During the tow and deployment, Sea Power Ltd. continuously monitored the WEC’s SCADA system, designed and commissioned by FAL Ltd:
Realtime ocean weather conditions around the tow and deployment were also provided by:
http://www.oceanenergyireland.com/TestFacility/GalwayBay/Observations
During tow out, local conditions were rough around loop head and through the Aran Islands but the WEC handled them easily and the tow out went extremely well, travelling at an average speed of 4knots. This demonstrated that the Seapower Platform can be easily towed out to any site.
Thanks to Co. Mayo based OSCS Ltd. http://www.offshoresubseaconsultancyservices.com/ for carrying out Risk Assessments and Methodology and overseeing and advising on all Seapower’s marine operations.
The WEC was hooked up to the set of pre-deployed moorings lines, and datalogging has commenced (Power, Mooring Loads, Hinge Loads, PTO loads, accelerations, GPS position, Hull panel pressures)
