Dong eyes Grimsby O&M bonanza

Dong Energy has announced plans to build the UK’s largest offshore wind operations and maintenance hub in Grimsby.

The facility, which is still subject to planning approval, will be developed in the town’s Royal Dock and will initially support the 210MW Westermost Rough, 573MW Race Bank and 1.2GW Hornsea 1 offshore wind farms.

However, Dong said the hub will also have the capacity to support other east coast wind farms in the company’s future development pipeline.

The hub will sit alongside the existing Westermost Rough O&M facility in Grimsby, using additional land to be leased from Associated British Ports.

The Danish developer added that the hub will be served by service operational vessels, supplied by Ostensjo Rederi and designed by Rolls-Royce, which are capable of accommodating up to 60 crew and technicians and remaining at sea for long periods.

The facility will also include a marine and helicopter coordination centre providing 24/7 service to offshore operations across the UK and beyond.

Dong said the first vessel, which will arrive late next year to support a phased activation on the new hub, will initially support O&M at Race Bank.

Some components needed to maintain wind turbines will be stored in a warehouse at the new facility, while other equipment will arrive from manufacturers on a ‘just-in -time’ basis to be loaded onto the vessel.

Once mobilised, the SOV will spend up to 28 consecutive days on station at the wind farm, where it will be able to service six to eight turbines a day, Dong said.

Technicians from Dong and turbine supplier Siemens will work on a two weeks on, two weeks off, shift pattern.

Dong Energy UK country chairman Brent Cheshire said: “This new operational hub in Grimsby … will generate direct and indirect job opportunities in the Humber region, as well as opportunities for the local supply chain.”

Image: Port of Grimsby (ABP)