Over 100 Vessels Call at Port of Aberdeen for Offshore Wind Jobs

So far in 2023, over 100 vessels have arrived at the Port of Aberdeen on various offshore wind related assignments. The latest in line was the Blue Tern jack-up installation vessel.

The Fred. Olsen Windcarrier vessel, which has an overall length of 495 feet, a breadth of 164 feet and an 800-tonne crane, couldn’t be missed as it sailed into the new Aberdeen South Harbour.

“Offshore wind is our most significant opportunity for growth over the next decade. The sector currently accounts for 10 percent of our overall vessel traffic and with ScotWind, INTOG and other developments on the horizon, we expect that figure to increase significantly in the coming years,” Roddy James, Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Aberdeen, said.

Port of Aberdeen’s strategic location, infrastructure and access to an unrivalled supply chain has resulted in the port increasingly being utilized for offshore wind projects, the port’s statement reads. A wide range of vessels - including large cable layers, construction, installation, survey, and service operation vessels (SOVs) - working on wind farms such as Seagreen, Moray East and Moray West are now regularly calling at the port, the statement adds.

The port has supported wind developments for many years, and its North Harbour is the operations and maintenance base for Aberdeen Offshore wind farm and Kincardine Offshore floating wind farm. The transformational South Harbour development offers 0.9 miles of deepwater berths (30 to 50 feet deep) and can accommodate ships up to 984 feet in length. It also offers extensive heavy-lift zones, 30.8 acres of flexible laydown space at the quayside, expansive project areas and is located adjacent to the Energy Transition Zone, the port noted.

“Our GBP 400 million investment in Aberdeen South Harbour positions the expanded port, and wider north east supply chain, to play a pivotal role in Scotland’s next generation of offshore wind. We’re engaging across industry and government to understand what’s required from ports to support these projects and discuss how the expanded Port of Aberdeen can unlock value across the offshore wind lifecycle,” James concluded.

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Photo Credit – iStock.com/TebNad