Some would shy away from the challenge of transporting three 145m wind turbines featuring 58.7m blades, Collett & Sons say bring it on!
With approval granted for the phase three of Muirhall Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire Collett were called upon to facilitate the import and delivery of eighteen components from the Port of Grangemouth, components which when constructed would form three GE 2.75-120 145m wind turbines.
Having delivered two Senvion turbines for phase two of the Muirhall extension in February 2014, the previous holders of the largest onshore turbine blade record, Collett were well practiced at traversing the route from Port to pad side with the turbine component cargoes. However, due to the massive 58.7m length of the phase three blades, and the massive 63.35m overall loaded length, their teams had to undertake meticulous planning ahead of the project. To ensure suitability of the route Collett Consulting pored over data providing Swept Path Analysis Reports and Route Access Surveys before undertaking a Test Drive of the route with a vehicle adapted to accurately reflect the loaded vehicle dimensions. The provision of all this data identified several requirements along the route to enable the convoy’s safe passage, this included street furniture removal, relocation of signage and lamp posts, pruning of foliage, third party land requirements and certain sections where the placing of track way would be necessary. The tower sections would move freely along the route but these special measures were essential for safe delivery of the blades. After liaising with several authorities, highways departments and constabularies the route was agreed and adapted to accommodate the convoy, now all that was needed were the turbines themselves.
