On Wednesday December 10th, the first edition of the Belgian Offshore Day took place on the Rebo-site in the Port of Oostende.
The Belgian Offshore Day is a business event that completely fits within the framework of the offshore wind business. All regional players operating in the sector were present and had the opportunity to put their knowledge and working methods in the spotlight.
The highlight of the day was the demonstration with a helicopter from North Sea Helicopters Flanders and a service boat (Geosurveyor X) of GEOxyz. The helicopter dropped two passengers on the deck of the boat.
Both companies are a good example of how an SME can adapt its offer into a new market. The Offshore Wind business had a thriving start with the development and construction of the wind farm C-Power.
Furthermore, secretary of the North Sea, Bart Tommelein, explained his vision on the future of the Belgian offshore wind industry. A look ahead on the next phase for the Belgian offshore wind industry was given with a panel discussion where the focus is no longer on the construction of the wind farms but on the challenges that arise from the successful exploitation of such a park.
The main purpose of this Belgian Offshore Day was to enlighten the concessionaires of the new parks that there is already a critical mass of offshore industry present on the Rebo site. In other words, there can be a lot of added value created by local suppliers.