Cumberhead Wind Farm Completed
Consisting of ten 83 metre hub height, and two 110 metre hub height turbines, Collett have completed delivery of all 12 Nordex N133 turbines to Cumberhead WinD Farm.
Beginning in June, the Collett Team discharged a total of 110 components from six separate vessels arriving at King George V Dock in Glasgow. Utilising their extensive port storage facilities, the Collett Team discharged each of the components undertaking port shunting from quay to an agreed laydown plan ahead of transport to the South Lanarkshire construction site.
Utilising six tractor units, three Nooteboom extendable super wing carriers, three clamp trailers, three step-frames and six escort vehicles, Collett began transporting each of the 110 components the 35 mile journey.
The initial stage of the route proved relatively straightforward, travelling Southbound on the M74 before exiting at Poneil Interchange Roundabout on to the Cumberhead Forest access road. Here, the challenge of transporting the components proved slightly trickier due to the access through the Forest.
65 Metre Blades
The longest of the cargoes, the 65 metre blades, possessed an overall loaded length of 68.72 metres with a 10 metre overhang, and required a full test drive of the 4.6 mile route to ensure the component’s safe passage. Completed in the planning stages of the project, this extensive test drive of the Cumberhead Forest road highlighted several modifications required to safely deliver the 65 metre blades, along with all the additional components to construct the twelve turbines. This included road widening, foliage and tree trimming, removal of banking sections and both vertical and horizontal alignment restructuring at various stages.
Coupled with the undertaking of these highlighted modifications, our Team were also required to employ manual steering throughout to allow each loaded component to safely navigate the forest access road.
Over a period of four months, our Team have handled 12 nacelles, 12 hubs, 12 drive trains, 36 blades and 38 tower sections (three for each of the ten 83 metre hub height turbines, and four for the two 110 metre hub height turbines). With a total of 110 components over 37 abnormal load convoys, the Collett Team have completed delivery of twelve Nordex N133 wind turbines for Cumberhead Wind Farm, near Douglas in South Lanarkshire.