While ports such as Hull, Bremerhaven or Esbjerg might be ready to grab the most important developments, there are potential rich pickings for many other ports which are unable to win the headline projects.
As the Portstrategy news portal writes, Richard Marks, business development director at Royal Haskoning, said that almost anyone can get business for offshore wind farms O&M.
Mr. Marks explains that the developers are looking for ports where they can focus on one office and manage the turbines, as their blades need changing.
However, there are technical challenges as wind farms are built in deeper water where platform is required for each one. Here comes the distance issue.
Namely, the personnel can be transported by small catamarans on daily basis to and from the site that is closer inshore, but for the one that is further in the sea, developers may have to choose an option – to provide a small offshore accommodation platform or flying workers out. In the last case, a helipad would have to be placed on top of a turbine and also at the serving port.
Mr. Marks said: “It is interesting what is going on.
“I think the developers are in control and they are working out their own plans – and they are keeping it all pretty secret.
[mappress]
Offshore WIND staff, June 15, 2012; Image: newhavenportauthority