MHI Vestas has opened a new office in the Port of Ostend to expand its offshore wind operations at the Belgian port.
The new €2m building has 1300 metres squared of office space and will help deal with the 67 turbines that are planned to be built this year at the Norther and Northwester 2 projects.
The company will monitor and maintain a total of 244 machines from Ostend by 2020, with MHI Vestas turbines already operating at the Northwind, Belwind and Nobelwind projects.
Port of Ostend took care of the full investment for the new office, with MOP Urban Design the architects for the building and the traffic development plan.
The main contractor was Alheembouw from Oostnieuwkerke with subcontractors Van Vooren covering electricity and SPIE the HVAC.
MHI Vestas Belgium regional director Aart Bark said: “Because we will be servicing no fewer than 244 wind turbines at sea from the Port of Ostend by 2020, we were in urgent need of expansion.
“This new location offers room for our new employees. Meanwhile, we now have over 100 employees in our Belgian branch.”
Port of Ostend chief executive Dirk Declerck said: “We proactively contribute to the expansion of the offshore wind business in our port.
“By establishing the needs of the market early on, we can invest in the necessary infrastructure so that the present partners can expand and new companies are attracted.
“This translates into permanent jobs, making the offshore wind sector even more interwoven in the region.”