First Inch Cape jackets arrive in Port of Leith

The project will use a combination of jacket and XXL monopile foundations for its 72 turbines across a 150 square kilometre offshore site in water depths ranging from 34 metres to 64 metres.

Jacket foundations are typically used where water depths exceed 55 metres and are designed for specific locations based on water depth, soil conditions and turbine size.

The jackets delivered to Leith are up to 83 metres tall and weigh between 2050 tonnes and 2250 tonnes.

Each foundation consists of a lattice steel framework with three legs and a transition piece that the wind turbine tower will be bolted to.

The first batch was transported on the heavy transport vessel Hua Yang Long from fabricator COOEC-Fluor Heavy Industries.

The company has been contracted to deliver all 18 jacket foundations for the project as well as 24 monopile transition pieces.

The foundations will be installed offshore by the heavy lift crane vessel Seaway Alfa Lift.

During installation the jackets will be lowered onto the seabed and secured to pre-installed pin piles.

Installation of wind turbines on the foundations is scheduled to begin towards the end of 2026.