FoundOcean has been awarded the contract to grout the 150 monopile foundations for the 600MW Gemini Offshore Wind Farm, on behalf of main contractor Van Oord. The project will be the first to use MasterFlow 9800, a revolutionary new material jointly developed by FoundOcean and BASF.

MasterFlow 9800 possesses a unique combination of features that makes it ideally placed to meet the specific requirements of the project; it combines high strength, low shrinkage properties with the ability to be stored and transported in bulk silos.

FoundOcean proposed the material based on its cutting-edge properties. Sales Director Andy Venn states, “Whilst all projects are different and each often presents demands that are specific to its location, design or installation schedule, the offshore wind industry in general faces a number of broader and more fundamental challenges, not least the need to drive down costs. MasterFlow 9800 offers a significant step forward in meeting these needs.”

The launch of MasterFlow 9800 in February of this year was the result of three years joint development between FoundOcean and BASF. According to FoundOcean Managing Director Jim Bell, FoundOcean and BASF recognized the demand within the offshore wind industry for a material that could provide high early strength development and low temperature performance, yet also offer increased efficiency, safety and cleanliness”.

MasterFlow 9800’s ability to be stored in silos rather than bags facilitates quayside storage in all weathers and eliminates the requirement for bag or container lifting during grouting operations and resupply. Moreover, using FoundOcean’s modified Recirculating Jet Mixer, the new MasterFlow 9800 grout system can achieve consistent grout quality whilst maintaining mixing and pumping rates exceeding 20m3/hr, saving valuable offshore operating days.

Grouting for the Gemini Offshore Wind Farm will take place in June 2015.

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