The Challenge
Vattenfall’s ambitious Zeevonk offshore wind farm—projected to deliver 2GW of wind power alongside a 50MWp floating solar farm—faced the complex challenge of conducting comprehensive site investigations 62km off the Dutch coast. As a joint venture between COP and Vattenfall designed to supply 14% of the Netherlands’ current energy consumption, the stakes were exceptionally high.
The project required expert oversight across multiple survey vessels to ensure that this substantial investment would yield the precise, high-quality data needed for successful development. With geotechnical and geophysical investigations running simultaneously, the client needed representatives who could maintain rigorous technical standards while effectively communicating between offshore teams and onshore project management.
Our Solution
Drawing on our technical expertise and independent perspective, Ternan Energy deployed a comprehensive client representation package:
- Expert Personnel Deployment: We provided specialized offshore client representatives across 6 vessels (2 geotechnical and 4 geophysical), delivering over 500 representative days
- End-to-End Logistics Management: Our team handled all shift pattern planning, travel arrangements, and operational coordination
- Technical Guidance: We offered continuous technical and operational support to client representatives, ensuring data quality met precise specifications
- Integrated Communication: Our representatives maintained clear lines of communication between vessel crews, contractors, and the client’s onshore team
The Ternan Approach
Unlike generic recruitment services, we approached this challenge as an integrated marine geoscience consultancy:
Technical Excellence
Our representatives brought specialized expertise in both geotechnical and geophysical disciplines, allowing them to provide meaningful technical input during operations. When unexpected seabed conditions were encountered, our team could immediately evaluate the situation and recommend appropriate adjustments to ensure data quality wasn’t compromised.
Experienced Oversight
We carefully selected representatives with prior experience in:
- Working with Vattenfall and similar renewable energy developers
- Collaborating with the specific contractors on the project
- Operating in North Sea conditions and Dutch regulatory environments
- Managing similar large-scale offshore site investigations
Efficient Coordination
Our management team’s extensive offshore experience meant we understood the practical realities of vessel operations. This allowed us to anticipate potential issues before they arose and maintain efficient workflow across all vessels.
Measurable Outcomes
Our client representation services delivered tangible benefits throughout the site investigation:
- Ensured Data Quality: Representatives maintained rigorous quality control, identifying and resolving potential issues before they affected data integrity
- Optimized Vessel Time: Our team’s expertise helped minimize weather downtime through strategic survey planning and operational flexibility
- Enhanced Communication: Clear information flow between offshore teams and onshore project managers enabled quick decision-making
- Maintained Schedule Integrity: Despite challenging North Sea conditions, our representatives helped keep the investigation on track
- Technical Assurance: The client gained confidence that all collected data would meet the exacting standards required for foundation design and installation planning
The Client Perspective
While the Zeevonk project is still ongoing, our previous work with Vattenfall demonstrates the value we bring. On similar projects, clients have noted our representatives’ ability to balance technical oversight with practical problem-solving, ensuring they receive exactly the data needed for successful project development.
Why Ternan?
As an independent, employee-owned consultancy, we bring a uniquely integrated approach to client representation. Our representatives aren’t simply observers—they’re experienced marine geoscience professionals backed by a multidisciplinary team of experts. This ensures that technical decisions made offshore are informed by deep subject matter knowledge.
For renewable energy developers facing the challenges of offshore site investigations, our representation services offer the ideal balance of technical expertise, practical experience, and independent oversight.
For more information about our offshore client representation services for your next renewable energy project, please contact Richard Luker, Principal Geotechnical Engineer, richard.luker@ternan-energy.com.