Danish offshore industry hub looking to expand

The Port of Esbjerg, the main base for all oil and gas activity in the Danish North Sea, and the main hub for the Danish offshore industry overall, is looking to expand, expecting increased activity towards 2030, both within existing and new business sectors.
Within the next few years, the expectation is that the port’s areas and quay will be fully utilized. Therefore, the Port of Esbjerg has initiated a process to clarify the expansion possibilities to enable the port and its customers to continue to generate growth and jobs, the port said on Monday.

Currently, the Port of Esbjerg said, the port has a historically high level of activity, and the prospect is that the port will continue the stable and profitable growth, which it has experienced during the past 10 years. However, the port authorities think more space is needed to realize the growth potential.

Thus, to be able to meet future demand, the Port of Esbjerg needs to further expand with approximately one million square meters and one kilometer of additional quay length from 2022 to 2030.

During the past 10 years, the Port of Esbjerg has been able to expand concurrently with the customers’ demand for more areas at the port. This must continue in the future.

“The Port of Esbjerg must offer an infrastructure that matches the needs of our customers in terms of quality, layout, and size. This is the prerequisite for ensuring continued growth and development for the benefit of both the companies at the port, the port itself, and the whole region. Otherwise, our customers will look elsewhere to conduct their business”, said Ole Ingrisch, director at the Port of Esbjerg.

He said: “We anticipate growing demand for areas at the port. Therefore, we must prepare for the future and clarify the possibilities for continuing a stepwise expansion of the port. This will enable us to expand concurrently with the demand of our customers”.

The formal environmental impact assessment process, including public consultations, is expected to start in the early autumn.

The Port of Esbjerg is servicing the country’s entire supply chain for the oil and gas industry. The port’s oil and gas activities range across several areas: from supplying and servicing existing installations to the establishment of new fields. From maintenance projects involving several hundred employees in rotation on the platforms to rig-repair, security training and decommissioning.

Apart from the oil and gas support, the Port of Esbjerg is one of Europe’s leading ports in handling and shipping out wind power.

The port is home to specialized facilities and flexible areas for transporting, pre-assembling, shipping out and servicing offshore wind turbines.
Offshore Energy Today Staff