UK: Tidal Transit Wins Workers Transfer Contract to Greater Gabbard Wind Farm

A Norfolk-based company has secured a contract to transfer workers between Lowestoft and a proposed Greater Gabbard wind farm offshore Suffolk, reports EDP 24.

The five-month contract worth GBP 300.000 will help Tidal Transit create three new jobs.

The wind farm, which is located 25 kilometres off the coast of Suffolk, will comprise 140 wind turbines and, when fully operational, will have a capacity of 504 megawatts. This will provide enough clean electricity to power around 530,000 homes.

Tidal Transit is planning to invest GBP 10 million to acquire 8 boats.

Last year in December, the company purchased two state-of-the-art, purpose-designed 20 meter support vessels to transport construction workers and maintenance crew out into the Greater Wash and southern North Sea energy zones.

Offshore wind industry offers great business opportunities with planning consents for more than 2,000 offshore wind turbines at no more than 15 to 20 miles from the coast between Grimsby and Lowestoft.

Tidal Transit Commercial Director, Leo Hambro said: “These incredible feats of engineering and construction are already creating an amazing demand for vessels for survey work and other preliminary tasks, and that demand will continue to grow as each wind farm enters its construction phase. Furthermore, with the push towards the Round 3 projects, very few of the existing vessels are able to operate at the extended distances, such as Norfolk Bank, whereas our new fleet can operate up to 150 miles from safe-haven”.

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World Maritime News Staff, February 13, 2012; Image: Tidal-Transit