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Nordseecluster A 10:51 AM Welding and Protective Coating for Offshore Substation Hook-Up Works for Nordseecluster A
Client: Chantiers De L’Atlantique
End Client: RWE
Project: Nordseecluster A
Scope: Welding and Protective Coating
Location: Eastern part of the German North Sea
Duration: April 2026 – May 2026
Project Overview
Global Energy Solutions was contracted to deliver critical welding and protective coating for offshore substation hook up works for Nordseecluster A – a 1.6 GW major offshore wind development situated in the eastern German North Sea.
Delivering on behalf of Chantiers De L’Atlantique, a leading French shipbuilder based in Saint-Nazaire, and with RWE as end client, our team deployed 40 personnel across onshore project management and offshore execution roles, collectively delivering 7,500 project hours – all with a zero Lost Time Incident (LTI) record.
The scope, delivered by six offshore disciplines, covered the complete lifecycle of structural welding and coating activities at the Topside-to-Jacket and Topside-to-Monopile interface locations – connections critical to the structural integrity of offshore substations, with all inspections achieving a 100% quality acceptance rate.
Scope of Work
The scope consisted of the execution of critical welding operations and associated quality control processes for offshore structures, specifically at Topside-to-Jacket and Topside-to-Monopile interface locations. The work supported structural integrity and compliance with stringent industry standards for high-strength steel application
The project involved the complete lifecycle of welding activities, including project management, weld procedure development, execution, inspection, post-weld protection and coating.
Key responsibilities included:
- Welding at Topside-to-Jacket and Topside-to-Monopile interface connections.
- Development and implementation of a new suite of Weld Procedure Qualifications (WPQs) tailored to high tensile strength steels and increased material thicknesses.
- Active thermal management throughout welding operations to ensure adherence to specified temperature ranges and prevent defects such as cracking or distortion.
- Execution of visual inspections and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) to verify weld integrity and compliance with applicable codes and standards.
- Surface preparation, blasting, and coating of installed steel to provide long-term corrosion protection in a harsh offshore environment.
Delivery was carried out by six offshore disciplines (Welding Supervisor, NDT Technician, Welder, Coating Supervisor, Coating Inspector, Blast & Painter) working in a coordinated, multi-skilled team structure, achieving a 100% quality acceptance rate across all inspections.
Project Significance
This project was particularly significant as it marked our first offshore wind substation hook-up – a major milestone in expanding our capabilities within the renewable energy sector. Delivering this scope required the successful integration of complex structural welding, stringent quality assurance processes, and adherence to offshore standards under challenging conditions.
This project not only demonstrated our team’s ability to execute high-integrity welding on critical interface connections, but also established a strong foundation for future offshore wind developments – reinforcing our technical expertise and credibility within the industry.
Key Project Stats
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personnel deployed from onshore project management to offshore execution
0
project hours successfully delivered throughout offshore execution
0
quality acceptance rate achieved during final project inspections
0
Lost Time Incidents (LTI) recorded throughout project delivery
Client Testimonial
We would like to express our sincere thanks to all the teams at Global Energy Solutions for their professionalism, commitment, and the quality of work delivered during the “hook-up welding painting” campaign.
This phase of the operations was carried out in line with the objectives set, with a level of quality fully meeting the expectations of Chantiers de l'Atlantique as well as those of our client RWE. The results achieved clearly demonstrate the seriousness, technical expertise, and constant dedication of the teams involved in the project.
We would also like to particularly highlight the excellent performance of the teams regarding safety, environmental, and logistics aspects. In a demanding offshore environment, where operational discipline, anticipation, and risk management are essential, the GES teams demonstrated exemplary behavior: no major issues to report, efficient organization, and a high level of vigilance and compliance throughout the operations.
The responsiveness and flexibility demonstrated by the teams were also key success factors. Their ability to quickly adapt to operational constraints, respond efficiently to unforeseen situations, and maintain smooth cooperation with our CDA supervisors greatly contributed to the successful execution of the campaign. This collaborative spirit, based on communication, availability, and a continuous search for solutions, was particularly appreciated by our client RWE, who commended the quality of the exchanges and coordination between the different teams.
