Associated British Ports (ABP) has signed a contract with IMES International to ensure the operational integrity of crane and bulk handling rigging equipment across its four ports in Humber, which will directly service UK’s Round 3 offshore wind farms, including the Dogger Bank, Hornsea and East Anglia projects.
Under the three-year contract, IMES will provide full-time personnel to carry out inspection, testing and repair work to ensure that the rigging and wire rope equipment at ABP’s ports in Immingham, Hull, Grimsby and Goole meets safety and operability certifications.
By servicing the Round 3 wind farms, the four Humber ports will prompt the creation of two specific port developments at Green Port Hull and Able Marine Energy Park, IMES said.
According to Kevin Black, the company’s Director of Services and Inspection, the ports are a significant gateway for the UK’s offshore wind industry and investing in the area is a wise choice with long-term positive impacts.
“The integrity of crane and associated equipment in these ports is crucial for safe, efficient and productive operations. The Humber ports are of great significance to Yorkshire’s economic make-up, and we’re proud to play our part to ensure it continues,” Black said.
“The area boasts a hugely talented and knowledgeable workforce, and from our ongoing projects in Yorkshire, we’ve seen first-hand how their skills result in successful projects. We’re looking forward to drawing on Humber’s workforce for our future work in the region.”
The Dogger Bank zone consists of four 1.2GW offshore wind projects located between 125 and 195km off the east coast of Yorkshire, generating a total capacity of up to 4.8GW.
The East Anglia offshore wind area comprises four projects developed by ScottishPower Renewables, with the first – the 714MW East Anglia One – being currently built some 43km off Suffolk.
Denmark-based Ørsted is developing the 1.2GW Hornsea Project One , which will become the world’s biggest offshore wind farm once operational in 2020, as well as the 1.4GW Hornsea Project Two and the 2.4GW Hornsea Project Three wind farms.