US outfit Coastal Environments and UK archaeological and heritage services company Wessex Archaeology Ventures are to create a US-based corporation called CEWA to deliver advice and cultural heritage permitting services to the offshore renewables market.
Wessex Archaeology will contribute technical knowledge and 17 years of marine archaeological experience in the North Sea, where the organisation has supplied services for over 90% of all the UK’s offshore wind farms.
Coastal Environments will provide an understanding of the US marine market and a track record of BOEM-compliant archaeological submissions in support of offshore development.
CEWA’s principal investigator will be Amanda Evans, who will be backed by a multi-disciplinary team.
Coastal Environments and CEWA president Mark Gagliano said: “We are pleased to announce this new venture for Coastal Environments which will build on our existing experience and relationships in the US offshore market.
“It will also provide new and existing clients with access to the expertise and capacity they need to meet the challenging targets presented by the current offshore wind development programme.”
CEWA and Wessex Archaeology chairman Ian Selby said: “This partnership marks the start of an exciting chapter for our organisations within a growing global market.
“As sector-leaders in the US and Europe, we are confident that CEWA will represent a unique heritage proposition for offshore developers, with high-quality services based on unparalleled experience, talented and specialist staff using the latest technologies, and the capacity to deliver on time and within budget.”