| Work Detail |
Offshore wind developer Ocean Winds has opened its new operations and maintenance base which will service the Moray West offshore wind farm.
The facility in Buckie includes offices, warehousing, and training facilities, plus an extensively redeveloped quayside area which features pontoons, cranes, and fuel storage to serve crew transfer vessels (CTVs) taking personnel and equipment to the wind farm every day.
Once fully operational the base will handle up to 100 vessel movements a week to ensure smooth long-term power generation from the project.
Recruitment for the new base is well advanced towards the full staffing complement for Moray West of more than 60 long-term local roles. The team is working closely with the construction and commissioning teams, accepting assets under full operational control as they are commissioned.
The 882MW wind farm is nearing the end of the construction phase and will become fully operational in 2025 in line with the originally projected commercial operations date. The wind farm includes the installation of 60 of the world’s currently largest serially produced wind turbines and the largest monopile foundations in UK waters.
Moray West, part of Ocean Winds’ 6GW portfolio of secured offshore wind farms in the UK, is expected to inject over £800m ($1.04bn) into the local Scottish economy throughout its lifespan, and during the construction phase, it will create more than 1,500 full-time equivalent years of jobs in Scotland.
The new base complements the base in Fraserburgh that the company dedicated to the Moray East project, creating a hub that will enable Ocean Winds to manage and maintain the cluster of its operated offshore wind farms in the Moray Firth, including the planned Caledonia project. |
