Fugro will carry out unexploded ordnance (UXO) surveys, identification and clearance for 50Hertz’s LanWin3 and LanWin6 offshore grid connection projects in the German North Sea. The work will help prepare the cable corridors for the safe installation of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) links between offshore wind farms and Germany’s electricity network.
Each connection is designed to transmit up to 2 GW, giving the two projects a combined capacity of 4 GW.
The survey is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2027. Fugro will cover 200 m-wide corridors along both routes using two Geowing® fixed magnetic gradiometer arrays. Each system carries ten magnetic sensors to detect potential UXO and other objects on or beneath the seabed. The resulting geodata will be used to map targets and compile a master target list for further investigation.
Selected targets will be inspected and identified in 2028 using remotely operated vehicles and specialist detection systems. Fugro will also remove debris where required and support the safe removal and disposal of confirmed UXO in line with regulatory requirements.
The company estimates that 1.3 million tonnes of unexploded munitions remain in marine environments worldwide, making survey and clearance an important part of offshore infrastructure planning.
“Building a reliable picture of the seabed at an early stage will allow 50Hertz to plan the next steps with greater certainty and manage safety throughout the cable installation programme,” said Ronny Bøhn, Fugro’s Director of Marine Geophysics for Europe and Africa.
