Horizon Ocean Management (HOM), a joint venture subsidiary of Mitsui and Hokutaku, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UK-based risk and safety consultancy Cairn Risk Consulting to bolster efforts in the Japanese offshore wind market.
Under the agreement, both entities will collaborate closely to deepen their understanding of the sector, aiming to provide a comprehensive suite of services. Their joint focus will be on ensuring the entire life cycle of offshore wind farms – from conception and development to operation, maintenance, and decommissioning – adheres to high safety and environmental standards, safeguarding people, infrastructure, and the environment.
Tom Semple, Director at Cairn Risk, expressed optimism about the collaboration, citing the consultancy's extensive experience in highly regulated industries like Oil & Gas. Semple emphasized the importance of a local collaboration partner in Japan to share the collective expertise gained over decades of working in offshore wind globally.
“We look forward to supporting Japan with its wind deployment vision and collaborating with HOM to build long-term relationships,” said Semple. Cairn Risk views its involvement in delivering clean energy projects as a crucial contribution to the safe transition to a net-zero future.
Nobuyuki Takagi, Managing Director of HOM, highlighted the valuable insights that can be gleaned from the European offshore wind supply chain, which boasts extensive marine and subsea experience from the Oil & Gas sector. Takagi emphasized the need for Japan to learn from and collaborate with leading companies in advanced offshore wind markets to enhance local competence and establish long-term capabilities.
Takagi expressed delight at partnering with Cairn Risk, noting that the consultancy's experience and expertise in risk management, particularly in the early project phases, will provide significant value to offshore wind projects in Japan. The collaboration aims to contribute to the realization of Japan's offshore wind deployment vision and the development of a robust local industry.
The partnership signifies a strategic alignment between Japanese and international entities to advance the offshore wind sector in Japan, tapping into global expertise to ensure the country's successful transition towards sustainable and safe energy solutions.