Ørsted opens world’s largest offshore wind O&M centre

The facility recently benefited from a £10M (US$12M) investment in its quayside and office facilities.

Ørsted head of the east coast region Darren Ramshaw said, “We are extremely pleased to be able to show off the fantastic facility we have here in Grimsby.

“The town has become a leading light in the development of offshore wind for the country and has really embraced the skills and opportunities that have become available within this exciting sector. With the port’s regeneration also on the horizon, we are excited to be a part of the development and growth in this area.”

There are four offshore windfarms directly managed from the East Coast Hub, Westermost Rough, Lincs, Race Bank and Gunfleet Sands. Two additional sites which are currently under construction, Hornsea One and Hornsea Two, will be joining the East Coast portfolio as the UK’s largest offshore windfarms in 2020 and 2022.

The Grimsby site has welcomed delegations from around the world to discuss best practice. Most notably, the site has hosted Australian, South Korean, Taiwanese, Japanese and American delegations who have shown a particular interest in the innovative Marine and Helicopter Co-ordination Centre (MHCC).

The MHCC is the only one of its kind across all Ørsted locations. Its staff work 24/7 on the liaison of personnel, vessels and helicopters visiting an Ørsted array currently under construction.