Dutch surveyor Fugro has been awarded a contract by Oriel Windfarm to deliver a detailed geotechnical site investigation that will inform the design and installation of foundations for 25 offshore wind turbines.

Located off the coast of Louth County, the 375MW project is planned to be among Ireland’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farms and is being jointly developed by JERA Nex BP and the Irish semi-state utility ESB.

Fugro’s winter geotechnical campaign is already underway following the mobilisation of the Fugro Voyager.

The vessel will undertake cone penetration testing, wireline geophysics, and laboratory analysis at its Wallingford facility. The resulting geo-data will support foundation design and help reduce installation risk as the project progresses.

“Early access to high-quality geo-data is critical for projects of this scale. By understanding the site’s ground profile, Oriel Windfarm can make informed decisions that support the long-term performance of offshore wind assets,” said Remmelt de Jong, Fugro’s regional business line director for marine site characterisation in Europe and Africa.