Two Norfolk-based marine companies are set to play a major role in the construction of the East of England’s newest offshore windfarm – and reap the benefits of multi-million pound agreements – thanks to ScottishPower Renewables.
The green energy company – part of the Iberdrola Group – has signed charter agreements worth more than £16 million in total with Caister-based NR Marine Services and Great Yarmouth-based OEG for the provision of vessels to support the construction of its East Anglia THREE offshore windfarm, which will come into operation next year.
The vessels will operate out of the port of Lowestoft.
NR Marine Services will provide two crew transfer vessels (CTVs) – NR Rebellion and NR Hunter – with the Typhoon Class Rebellion taking to the water from April, and the Storm Class Hunter following later in the year.
Built by Diverse Marine in the Isle of Wight, NR Rebellion is a 25m hybrid vessel and will be one of the cleanest CTVs in the industry thanks to reduced emissions and daily fuel consumption. With a service speed of 26 knots, range of 1,000 nautical miles and capacity to ferry up to 24 personnel to the construction site for the 1.4GW windfarm, it will be the first vessel of its type employed within the Iberdrola Group.
OEG will provide support vessel Tess, which will carry out guard operations at the windfarm site. Thanks to its design and capabilities, the Tess can stay out at sea for longer periods, making it the perfect choice for East Anglia THREE.
Ross Ovens, ScottishPower Renewables’ Managing Director for Offshore, gave the vessel agreements and the two local companies a warm welcome to the East Anglia THREE project. He said: 'It’s fantastic to have NR Marine Services and OEG on board and supporting the construction of East Anglia THREE right on their doorstep – bringing more investment and opportunity to the region and contributing to a cleaner and greener future for us all. It’s also terrific to be using vessels that were built here in the UK to support the country’s clean power ambitions.
'These charter agreements are testament to how the East of England can service the offshore wind industry both here in the UK and right across the globe and we’re proud to have played our part in both the region’s continued growth and the success of these supply chain partners who both worked on our first windfarm here. Together we’re creating a legacy that will reap benefits for decades to come and we’re really excited to be part of that.'
Owen Nutt, Director NR Marine Services, said: 'It’s exciting to be supporting ScottishPower and East Anglia THREE right here on our home turf. This is the biggest charter we’ve ever signed up to and it’s a real show of confidence not just in NR Marine Services, but in what this region can offer the offshore wind industry as a whole.
'Thanks to trusted partners like ScottishPower, we’re growing faster than ever before and doubled both our fleet and our headcount in the last year alone – including more local recruitment – thanks to the strength of our order book. That’s a win-win for the region and the UK and we look forward to playing our part in seeing East Anglia THREE take shape over the coming weeks and months.'
George Moore, Business Development Director for OEG said: 'We are, of course, thrilled to build upon the support we are delivering to the East Anglia THREE project, adding to the range of subsea, topside and marine services we are already delivering to the offshore windfarm’s construction phase.
'Having supported ScottishPower Renewables for a number of years now, OEG has been able to establish firm roots in the region, and this contract further strengthens our commitment to the East of England.
'It is a source of great pride here at OEG that our collaboration with ScottishPower Renewables continues to flourish as our shared commitment to developing a truly robust local supply chain endures. We now look forward to delivering a safe and efficient project.'
East Anglia THREE will be ScottishPower Renewables’ biggest ever offshore windfarm – and the second largest in the world – when it comes into operation in 2026, producing 1.4GW of homegrown clean energy. That’s enough to power the equivalent of more than 1.3 million homes.
Source: ScottishPower Renewables
