Cork-based shipping outfit Irish Mainport Holdings has entered the offshore wind sector with the purchase of the 50-metre Mainport Geo survey and research vessel and a share of Wicklow-based offshore services company Alpha Marine.
In Ireland, Mainport currently operates three tugs in the Shannon estuary, provides a dedicated supply vessel at the Kinsale natural gas field, as well as ship agency and stevedoring operations in Cork and Limerick.
Globally the company operates seismic support ships and has interests in fast crew boats and anchor handler ship in Malaysia and Australia.
Mainport Geo (pictured) was built in 2015, has a DP 2 system, and can carry up to 35 passengers.
It is located in Ivory Coast at present and will be delivered to Cork shortly.
Alpha Marine has a long history of service to the offshore wind sector, both in Ireland and overseas.
Since 2004, it has provided tug and workboat charter, crew transfer vessels, hydrographic survey, subsea repair and maintenance and most recently, environmental and geophysical survey to offshore wind in Ireland and the UK.
Mainport chief executive Dave Ronayne said: “We are delighted with this new ship, which will be very suitable for the offshore renewable sector in Ireland.
“We know there is over €5bn investment planned over next few year on the east coast of Ireland by many major existing offshore wind operators such as Innogy, Parkwind, ESB, Statkraft,
“Fred Olsen and SSE and all these new wind farms will require surveying services. This ship is also very suitable for the Italian scientific research markets.
“We are very happy to join with Alpha Marine who are ideally located on the east coast of Ireland and who have a great track record on providing services to the offshore wind industry over the last decade.
“Our combined resources will allow us to provide a full marine and technical solution to all marine requirements.”
Alpha Marine commercial director Tim Greenwood said: “Alpha Marine is looking forward to a bright future for offshore wind in Ireland and we are naturally delighted to partner with Mainport.
“This strategic investment will increase our operational capability and enable us to deliver a strong Irish supply chain proposition to wind farm developers and tier 1 & 2 contractors.
“Over the last year or two we have seen an uptake in enquiries for geophysical survey so the added capability that the Mainport Geo brings us is very exciting indeed.”