Elia said it took precise planning to position the 22,000-tonne blocks, each of which are 58m long, 28m wide and up to 32m high.
The caissons were constructed in the port of Vlissingen and each were towed by four tugs some 100km across the Western Scheldt and the North Seas.
They were sunk on location, and work is now underway on filling them with sand ballast and reinforcing them with rubble.
The installation process took about 24 hours to complete.
Elia called the operation a milestone.
“It also demonstrates the expertise of Belgian companies in complex marine engineering works,” the company added.
“In the coming months, the east side of the island will first be completed, after which work will begin on the south side. The speed of progress depends entirely on weather conditions.”
When all the caissons are complete, the island will be fitted with equipment to transmit electricity generated by some 3.5GW of future offshore turbines to the Belgian grid.
It will also act as a relay for other wind energy zones in the North Sea.
Construction is being carried out by TM Edison, a consortium that includes Belgian marine contractors Deme and Jan De Nul.
Elia describes the 6ha island as its flagship project and the first of its kind, and says its design has a “nature-inclusive” approach that will foster biodiversity and “help marine life to flourish around it”.
The project has been hit by a dramatic increase in costs, which have risen from an original estimate of €650m to €7bn. This surge is primarily due to increases in the cost of electrical equipment, and has raised concerns about the project’s viability.
In February, Elia announced it was postponing the signing of the final contracts for the island due to the price increase, and uncertainty over the regulatory situation.
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