Grimsby Fishdock agrees O&M wind farm deal with Centrica
Team Humber member Grimsby Fishdock Enterprises has agreed a 25-year lease with Centrica to enable the energy group to build an operation and maintenance base to serve its wind farms in the Greater Wash.
When the facility is completed by the end of this year it is will have capacity for more than 100 staff, and enough room for contract workers and additional workforce during peak times.
Centrica, which owns British Gas, operates the 194MW Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farm, three miles off the Lincolnshire coast, and is building the 270MW Lincs wind farm nearby, which is expected to generate its first power by the end of 2012.
The company currently runs operation and maintenance for the wind farm projects out of third party facilities in the dock. The new base will provide more specialist facilities and include a new administration block near the fish processing factories on the docks’ north wall area.
Martyn Boyers, chief executive of Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises, said: “This is great news for us as a company, great news for the port and the docks and great for the community of Grimsby.
“From this initiative, we can improve the infrastructure and put in place the building blocks of the future by developing the facilities, services and skills to support the wind farm industry.
“It is a significant milestone in the future of this town and creates real opportunities.”
Mick Turner, head of operation and maintenance, Centrica Renewable Energy, said: “Grimsby provides excellent infrastructure for our operations and maintenance facility and has a strong skill base. The offshore wind industry is growing apace and Grimsby is well-placed to benefit from it.
“But in order achieve this potential, it is vitally important that further investment in the docks is forthcoming to ensure they are fit for purpose and can accommodate the large number of vessels required.”
John Fitzgerald, port director, Associated British Ports, Grimsby & Immingham, another THMA member, said: “This is really good news for Grimsby and further confirmation of the Humber ports’ pivotal role in the development of UK’s offshore wind industry.
“From potential turbine manufacture at Greenport Hull to O&M bases here in the Port of Grimsby, ABP are working with major players such as Centrica to develop the supply chain cluster which will firmly establish a new industry in this area.”