The project was a requirement of the Development Consent Order for the Hornsea 3 Offshore Windfarm.
The new nests will aim to protect the vulnerable seabird species– the Black-legged kittiwake. The purpose-built structures are made up of a monopile foundation and internal grouted jacket. Each monopile weighs more than 30t and has a depth below the seabed of 30m. The upper pile sleeve is fitted with two vertical steel tubes for vessel berthing and the final component is the topside nesting structure.
Two of the artificial nesting structures (ANS) are located approximately 1km from the shoreline of South Beach, Lowestoft, and the third is 1.4 km from the shoreline of the RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve.
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Red7Marine began working on the project in August 2022. They worked alongside Ørsted and its designers to manage the fabrication and installation process for the nests. Two jack-up barges were used to install the structures.
The artificial nesting structures were designed by a team of ecologists, architects, and engineers to ensure they are attractive to kittiwake and fit in with the landscape. The nesting structures will be monitored every year to count the number of birds, occupied nests, and their productivity.
Commenting on the finished works, Kristen Branford, Managing Director at Red7Marine said: "We are delighted to announce the successful completion of 'Project RISSA' involving the installation of three artificial nesting structures.
"These structures will play a crucial role in supporting an important and vulnerable species, whilst enabling the generation of clean, green electricity for the Hornsea 3 project. This project is the first of its kind and required meticulous planning and consideration, and we are proud to have achieved this significant milestone.
"Our success in delivering this project was greatly attributed to effective supply chain management. With multiple interfaces involved, we recognised the importance of coordination and collaboration to meet project timelines.
"Red7Marine remains committed to pushing boundaries and finding innovative solutions that harmonise renewable energy generation. It was great to work alongside Ørsted on this project and we look forward to continuing work together in the future."
