A UK delegation, including the Team Humber Marine Alliance, is visiting the US east coast to meet with politicians, academics and business leaders to discuss offshore wind development.
The visit – from 29 October to 2 November – is organised by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and hosted by British Embassy staff with help from the Cross-Government Prosperity Fund.
It is meeting with interested parties in Boston, New Bedford, Providence, New York and New Jersey. Topics include the potential harm to incumbent ocean users and communities, competition between different states and a lack of supply chain expertise.
Team Humber Marine Alliance chief executive Mark O’Reilly (pictured, centre left) said: “There is intense interest in how the Humber and other offshore wind hubs in the UK have overcome these challenges.
“The US only has only one 30MW array in operation despite areas with immense opportunities, so the sector is in its infancy.
“They are particularly interested in the critical role we have all played in addressing community impact while delivering value to the communities we live in.
“The invitation illustrates how far the Humber and other parts of the UK have come and also presents commercial opportunities as it is accepted that, while the US will develop its own supply chain, it will have to draw on European expertise in order to get momentum in the sector and meet its targets.”
Other delegates from the UK include Andrew Oliver of Andrew Jackson Solicitors, Louise Smith of Project Aura at the University of Hull, Mandy Masters of Rix Shipping and Tony Appleton (pictured, left) from Burns & McDonnell.
The delegation also met with Congressman Joe Kennedy (pictured, centre right) and New Bedford mayor Jon Mitchell (pictured, right).