Windcat Workboats MD, Neil Clarkson, has formally handed over Windcat 38 to its new client – SSE’s Head of Offshore Wind Generation, Steve Rose.
SSE chartered the vessel to work on Great Gabbard OWF. The presentation of the newly built 19m vessel took place at Windcat’s new marine engineering facility in Lowestoft, UK.
Steve Rose said: “I am delighted that we continue to work with Windcat, we have developed a good relationship over the years. In addition I am very pleased to see Windcat investing significantly in the local area, not just establishing its UK head office in the town but also its engineering base. The development of the new facility in Lowestoft shows that the offshore wind industry provides direct benefits to local people by creating jobs and supporting training opportunities.”
Windcat 38 will be one in a long line of Windcats that have worked or are working on Greater Gabbard. At present, the company has six vessels working on the 504MW site supporting offshore maintenance work.
Neil Clarkson said: “We believe that offering our clients reliability is essential. Being able to have a dedicated engineering base will help ensure that we meet this goal. We have a great deal of confidence that Lowestoft will support our business growth. The town is close to the main European market which with the development of East Anglia 1 OWF will continue to expand.”
“The development of the engineering base was made possible with the support of ABPorts who provide the hoisting facilities enabling the development of the site to go ahead. In time we will operating a full marine engineering training centre. Having the Lowestoft College on hand allows us to offer our staff the benefits of formal qualifications as well as practical experience. Our crew and support staff are directly employed so it makes sense to invest in them.”
Windcat Workboats owns and operates a growing fleet of over 38 offshore crew transfer vessels, mainly in the European offshore wind sector, but also in the oil and gas industry and outside Europe.
Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm consists of 140 SWT-3.6-107 Siemens turbine turbines and is located off the coast of East Anglia. The project has a 504MW capacity and produces enough renewable energy to supply around 530,000 homes each year.