Case Study

Borssele Cable Route ID & Clearance

Client

Fugro / TenneT

Location

Netherlands (North Sea)

Year

2018

Scope of Support

LPMS provided project controls and project management support for the Borssele cable-route identification and clearance campaign. The work included weekly progress and financial reporting, production-rate analysis, schedule and remaining-scope forecasting, subcontractor and marine-spread coordination, commercial follow-up, and management of the transition from Glomar Wave to Deep Helder.

LPMS also prepared and coordinated the vessel mobilisation and demobilisation plans, including the transfer of the ROV, survey and support systems, HAZID and kick-off activities, lifting and sea-fastening interfaces, on-hire and off-hire surveys, and mobilisation readiness reporting.

LPMS Role

Project Management

Project Phase

Planning, mobilisation, offshore execution, vessel transition, demobilisation and reporting

Duration of Involvement

February–August 2018

01 — Project Context

Project Context

The Borssele wind zone in the North Sea is one of the Netherlands' major offshore wind development areas, part of the Dutch government's phased roll-out of offshore wind capacity off the coast of Zeeland. Connecting an offshore wind farm to the onshore grid requires laying submarine export cables along a defined route between the wind farm and the landing point.

Before cable installation could proceed, a debris and unexploded ordnance (UXO) identification and clearance survey was required along the planned route. The North Sea saw extensive military activity during both World Wars, and legacy ordnance remains a recognized risk for any subsea construction work in the region, requiring specialist survey and clearance before cables, foundations, or other infrastructure can be safely installed.

Fugro, a geo-data and survey specialist, carried out the debris and UXO identification and clearance campaign on behalf of TenneT, the Dutch transmission system operator responsible for connecting offshore wind capacity to the national grid.

LPMS provided project management support on the engagement, coordinating survey execution and reporting for the debris and UXO identification and clearance work along the cable route ahead of installation.

02 — Execution Constraints

Key Challenges

An evolving master target list and uncertain remaining target quantities, limiting schedule certainty.
Strong currents, siltation and poor subsea visibility that materially reduced target-prosecution rates.
Execution in busy shipping channels with additional pilotage, traffic and authority interfaces.
Multiple vessels, ROV and survey providers, fabrication teams, agents and specialist UXO parties operating across a shared marine spread.
Additional and changing tasking, including anchor-box surveys and targets outside the original base scope.
A time-critical transition between Glomar Wave and Deep Helder while maintaining continuity of offshore operations.

03 — LPMS Approach

LPMS Approach

Maintained weekly progress, production, financial and commercial reporting to translate offshore performance into management visibility.
Tracked target-prosecution rates against the evolving target list and developed remaining-duration scenarios as conditions and quantities changed.
Structured the commercial and operational case for adding Deep Helder, including rates, subcontract amendments and charter considerations.
Prepared detailed mobilisation, demobilisation and lift planning for the transfer of the complete ROV and survey spread between vessels.
Coordinated kick-off meetings, HAZID reviews, subcontractor interfaces, vessel surveys, sea fastening and readiness checks.
Maintained invoice, payment and change visibility while the client considered scope and contract extensions.

04 — Outcomes

Outcomes

The Glomar Wave demobilisation and Deep Helder mobilisation were completed during the planned August transition window.
The vessel transfer was positively received by client and vessel representatives for its preparation and pace.
The mobilisation and lift plans were validated in execution and identified as useful templates for future marine-spread transitions.
Three confirmed UXO targets were successfully disposed of with Deep Helder supporting dredging and pre-disposal verification.
LPMS maintained integrated schedule, production, financial and commercial visibility while target quantities, operating conditions and additional scope continued to evolve.

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