Case Study: Rapid Bog Mat Supply for Bohlen & Doyen’s Tidal Project with E.ON UK and National Grid

Bohlen Doyen, tasked with a significant tidal project for end contractors E.On and National Grid, faced the unique challenge of installing a grid electricity cable that stretched offshore from Belgium. The operation’s success hinged on the strategic use of a large number of bog mats, essential for managing the project’s distinctive environmental challenges.

Project Overview:

Bohlen & Doyen, a leader in cable, pipeline, and plant construction for gas and electricity networks, turned to our GJ Mats team for support on a major tidal project for end contractors E.ON and National Grid.

A complex and demanding project to install a grid electricity cable extending offshore from Belgium, the project presented unique logistical, safety and environmental challenges. Our critical role in the project was to manage the rapid, strategic deployment of a significant volume of bog mats, enabling Bohlen Doyen to protect the tidal ecosystem without compromising operational efficiency.

Challenges:

Delivering a solution that could cope with strong tidal movement was the most challenging aspect of this project as the dynamic coastal environment had the potential to displace the bog mats, causing costly disruption to operations. Our client needed us to provide exceptionally durable bog mats that were tough enough to weather the conditions and stay in place yet flexible enough to realign easily to accommodate the constantly changing tides.

Not only were there environmental complexities to contend with, but the project required us to supply a substantial number of bog mats with rapid delivery in line with our client’s demanding schedule, all whilst ensuring minimal disruption to ongoing operations.

Solutions:

For us, meticulous planning is crucial on every job, whether it’s a smaller project or a complex global installation. Once our GJ Mats experts had formulated a comprehensive plan, we organised the delivery of a large consignment of highly durable, easily readjusted bog mats, we co-ordinated with the Bohlen & Doyen team to ensure the mats were on site quickly, anchored securely and installed in precise alignment with the tidal schedules. Our expertise in deploying solutions for large installations meant we were able to accommodate the project’s considerable challenges without significant interference to operational progress, ensuring the project’s seamless continuation.

Key Highlights:

– Rapid Response and Delivery: We have years of experience in quickly mobilising resources across the UK, Europe and beyond, so successfully meeting the project’s urgent need for a high quantity of bog mats was a matter of course for our team.

– Adaptability to Environmental Challenges: We implemented a flexible solution that allowed for the frequent realignment of mats in response to tidal movements, ensuring the project’s infrastructure remained secure and undisturbed.

– Minimal Operational Disruption: This is critical to every job we do. On this project, achieving the requirements with minimal disruption to ongoing work and staff ensured that this critical infrastructure project progressed efficiently and safely.