Fugro has secured a contract from German transmission system operator 50Hertz to survey, identify and clear unexploded ordnance (UXO) along the planned LanWin3 and LanWin6 offshore grid connection routes in the German North Sea.
The survey campaign is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2027, covering 200-metre-wide corridors along both routes. Fugro will deploy two Geowing fixed magnetic gradiometer arrays, each equipped with ten magnetic sensors to detect potential UXO and other objects on or beneath the seabed.
The resulting geophysical data will be used to map potential targets and compile a master target list for further investigation.
Fugro UXO survey to precede cable installation
Follow-up inspections and identification work are planned for 2028. Fugro will use remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and specialised detection equipment to investigate selected targets, removing debris where necessary. Confirmed UXO will be safely removed and disposed of in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
The findings will help 50Hertz assess seabed hazards and plan the subsequent clearance work ahead of cable installation. The number and nature of potential explosive objects will only become clear as the survey progresses.
LanWin3 and LanWin6 designed for 4 GW
The two projects form part of Germany’s expansion of its offshore electricity transmission infrastructure. Each connection is designed to transmit up to 2 GW of offshore wind power, giving them a combined planned capacity of 4 GW.
The HVDC links will connect offshore wind farms to Germany’s electricity network, enabling additional offshore-generated renewable power to reach the national grid. Source (including image credits): Fugro