ScottishPower Renewables has signed charter agreements worth more than £16 million with two UK-based marine service providers to support construction of its 1.4GW East Anglia Three offshore wind farm, the company said on Thursday.
The contracts involve Norfolk-based NR Marine Services and OEG Offshore, also headquartered in the region. The deals will provide key vessel support during the construction phase of the project, which is one of the largest offshore wind developments currently underway in the UK.
NR Marine Services will supply two crew transfer vessels (CTVs), the NR Rebellion and the NR Hunter. The Rebellion, a 25-metre hybrid vessel built by Diverse Marine on the Isle of Wight, is scheduled to begin operations in April, with the Hunter to follow later in the year. The Rebellion has a service speed of 26 knots and can carry up to 24 personnel to the offshore site.
“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,” said Owen Nutt, Director at NR Marine Services.
OEG will provide the support vessel Tess, which will undertake guard operations at the wind farm site. Both NR Marine’s and OEG’s vessels will operate out of the Port of Lowestoft, reinforcing the port’s role as a regional hub for offshore wind activity.
Ross Ovens, Managing Director for Offshore at ScottishPower Renewables, said the contracts reflect the growing importance of the East of England in the UK’s offshore wind supply chain. “It’s fantastic to have NR Marine Services and OEG on board – 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,” he said.
George Moore, Business Development Director for OEG, said the new contract builds on the company’s longstanding relationship with ScottishPower Renewables. “It is a source of great pride here at OEG that our collaboration continues to flourish as our shared commitment to developing a truly robust local supply chain endures,” he said.
East Anglia Three is part of Iberdrola’s wider East Anglia Hub, which is expected to deliver a total of 3.1GW of offshore wind capacity, enough to power millions of UK homes.
