THE UK offshore wind farm sector reached a landmark this month (June) with the official inauguration of its newest development, Gunfleet Sands, within sight of the Essex coast.

The construction phase of Dong Energy’s 172 MW wind farm – total area 17.5 square kilometres, total 48 turbines – has amply demonstrated the Haven Gateway’s ability to support and provide facilities for this fast-growing sector.

The turbines were first shipped in their component parts via barge from Scandinavia to Harwich International Port (HIP). From the storage and operations base supplied at the port, the components for each complete turbine and tower were then loaded out as needed to jack-up barge, for transporting out to the site for installation.

HIP has certainly built, and is maintaining, its position as the east coast’s leading port for offshore wind farm installation, having now assisted in the Gunfleet Sands, Greater Gabbard and Thanet projects.

The benefits it can offer are obvious: excellent location, sheltered harbour, no locks, no air draft, all highly valued when handling such large, vulnerable and expensive pieces of equipment.

Others in the Haven Gateway – Harwich Haven Authority, Harwich Navyard, Felixstowe’s Landguard Terminal and the Port of Brightlingsea – have also had significant involvement in supporting the offshore wind farm projects and clearly there are massive opportunities to gain more work in this sector.

So we are positioning ourselves for those opportunities, which will come in the UK rounds 2, 2.5 and 3 projects, as well as from wind farm developments off the near continent.

This isn’t just a case of short-term, one-off construction projects – we are talking about long-term opportunities to grow business at our ports. There are several elements here. First, there’s the initial survey work, in which surveyors and their vessels require a marine base, back-up services and often accommodation. Next comes the components, with potential manufacturing work as well as storage and assembly. Then there is loading out for construction. And, finally, there will be the ongoing service and maintenance requirements for these enormous developments.

Just like any machine – and especially one operating in such a harsh environment – these wind turbines will require regular servicing, repair and replacement. The O&M (operation and maintenance) phase of the wind farms will stretch ahead for decades after construction is complete.

At the Gunfleet Sands inauguration, Energy Minister Charles Hendry said: “Our island is surrounded by some of the windiest coast in the world and that’s a resource we’ve got to use. I want to make sure we grab all the opportunities the rapidly expanding offshore wind industry has to offer, and that offshore wind power can come of age under this government.”

The Round 3 development is expected to require the installation of 7,000 offshore wind turbines around the UK, with nearly half of these situated off the East of England.

The opportunities are obvious.

Thanet, off the Kent coast, will eventually consist of a total 100 turbines; HIP has been involved in support work for this development since March.

Last month (May), the first wind turbines for the Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm were loaded out from HIP for installation. This development, when complete, will consist of 140 turbines providing 504 MW of power. That’s enough to supply 530,000 homes with energy, and makes Greater Gabbard the largest wind farm in the world … for now!