A new wind training centre to support the US offshore and onshore wind industries has opened its doors to customers after receiving approval from the Global Wind Organization (GWO).
The new purpose-built centre has been developed by Arcon Training Centre in Maryland, along with the UK wind trainer AIS Training to support the offshore and onshore wind industry in the US.
It is located at Arcon’s existing training facility in Salisbury.
The centre passed the GWO audit process and is now approved to offer GWO Basic Safety Training – a mandatory requirement for anyone working in the global wind industry.
Arcon will offer GWO working at height, manual handling, fire awareness and first aid courses, as well as sea survival courses in a short time.
The facility incorporates a seven-metre-high training tower, climbing and rescue platforms and an open area for manual handling training, a fire awareness training structure and area, as well as newly equipped classrooms, office space and communal areas.
Personnel from AIS Training helped to design the new centre, develop the course portfolio, train the instructors and supported to successfully obtaining the GWO wind industry accreditation.
The centre was originally planned for April 2020, but completion was hampered by the global pandemic.
Arcon Training Centre’s Katarina Ennerfelt said: “We are delighted and extremely proud to have gained the highly coveted GWO-approval, which allows us to now offer industry-accredited training for the fast-growing US wind industry for the very first time.
“The growth and positive impact that this opportunity will have for the Eastern Shore of Maryland is limitless.
“We have always pushed and advocated for jobs and continued education in the trade and labour market and to be part of something that will create thousands of jobs and opportunities for people in the Maryland and Delmarva area is truly an amazing feeling.
“We have been a proponent of offshore wind for years and all the benefits renewable energy will bring not only to the state of Maryland but hopefully as a springboard to the rest of the country.”
AIS Training head of renewables sales Geoff Croft said: “Despite the challenges around the Covid-19 pandemic, we are pleased to see this project finally come to fruition.
“The offshore wind industry in the US is growing rapidly with several large offshore wind farms planned and this new Maryland centre is ideally placed to support the sector as it grows with highly skilled and competent personnel.”