Associated British Ports (ABP) has unveiled ambitious plans for the Port of Lowestoft
Over the next five years, ABP will develop the Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF), which will bring significant upgrades to marine facilities at Lowestoft’s outer harbour.
The project will deliver port infrastructure to meet the offshore energy industry’s current and future demands, ensuring that it can accommodate the next generation of offshore support vessels.
The facility will provide a site that is suitable for operations and maintenance (O&M) activities in addition to a quayside suitable for construction support activities.
ABP Group head of commercial - offshore wind Andy Reay said, “ABP is the number one host of O&M bases in the UK, providing infrastructure for operations and maintenance facilities to support offshore windfarms in Barrow, Grimsby and Lowestoft.
“Our LEEF project represents an exciting step change in our ability to service customers in the growing southern North Sea energy sector. It will re-engineer existing quayside in the outer harbour and create the modern infrastructure needed to support a rapidly changing energy industry in a growing regional economy.”
The first phase of LEEF will require around £25M (US$34M) in investment. When complete, the project will provide 360 m of berthing space for simultaneous use by three service operation vessels and up to 8 acres of flexible storage and a marshalling area. In addition, it will create around 5,000 ft2 of new office space with direct quayside access.
ABP director short seaports Andrew Harston said, “Port of Lowestoft already plays a key role in supporting the local economy, contributing £30M annually and supporting over 580 local jobs. We’re looking forward to this role growing in future, with the rise in activity, new investments and new customers.
“The LEEF project has the potential to attract supply-chain companies to Lowestoft and create an energy cluster renaissance, bringing new jobs and prosperity to the area, supporting investment in offshore wind developments off the Suffolk and Norfolk coast.”
LEEF forms a central part of a new masterplan for the port, which provides a long-term view of how ABP will work with its partners to ensure that the prosperity generated by investment reinforces the wider development of the town as a superb place to live, work, visit and invest.
MP for Waveney Peter Aldous commented “Lowestoft is strategically well placed to benefit from the wide range of opportunities available in the southern North Sea, which includes one of the largest clusters of offshore windfarms in the world, rich fishing grounds and gas fields in which to store carbon.
“The Masterplan provides a framework for investment in Lowestoft Port that will attract business to the town, providing jobs for local people. I look forward to working with ABP in turning this vision in to reality.”
Riviera Maritime Media will provide free technical and operational webinars in 2021. Sign up to attend on our events page
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.