First Dudgeon Offshore Wind personnel move into Great Yarmouth
November 2015: The Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm project is now welcoming its first ten operations and maintenance (O&M) personnel onto the site at Berth 9 on the River Yare within the port of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. The team will work out of temporary office accommodation while work progresses to complete the conversion of an existing warehouse to create the Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm's dedicated O&M base.
Construction progress viewed from across the River Yare
The main task for this team is to establish the onshore operations base, carry out further recruitment for the operations organisation and provide onshore logistic and operational support to the offshore wind farm construction team, which is expected to begin the installation process in March 2016.
The conversion of the existing building by East Anglian builders RG Carter is expected to be finished by the summer of 2016. The Dudgeon O&M team will over the next year grow to an organisation consisting of 30-35 persons working onshore and supporting the 35-40 technicians working offshore.
"I am very pleased to be established in Great Yarmouth, and that we have reached this important stage of the project," comments Dudgeon Operations Manager Rune Rønvik. "It is a significant step for Statoil as an offshore wind farm operator, and we are looking forward to developing good relationships with the public, Great Yarmouth Borough Council and the local business community, who we will be co-operating with for the next 25 years."
During the coming year, Statoil plans to recruit 30 permanent positions filling the roles of engineers, control room operators, planners and wind turbine technicians, plus 8 temporary positions relating to the project phase – site managers and marine co-ordinators. In addition, the company will be inviting tenders for local services to support activities both at the base and offshore. All employment opportunities will be posted on the Dudgeon website.
Dudgeon Offshore Wind Limited, which holds the licenses and consents to enable it to construct the Dudgeon offshore wind farm, is owned by two Norwegian companies, Statoil and Statkraft, and Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company, Masdar. Statoil holds the responsibility as operator for both the construction and the operational phase.
Statoil is an international energy company with operations in 33 countries. Building on 40 years of experience from oil and gas production on the Norwegian continental shelf, it is committed to accommodating the world's energy needs in a responsible manner, applying technology and creating innovative business solutions. It is headquartered in Stavanger, Norway with approximately 23,000 employees worldwide, and is listed on the New York and Oslo stock exchanges.
Statkraft is Europe's largest generator of renewable energy and is the leading power company in Norway. The company owns, produces and develops hydropower, wind power, gas power and district heating. Statkraft is a major player in European power trading and has 3,600 employees in more than 20 countries.
Masdar is Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company advancing the development, commercialisation and deployment of clean energy technologies and solutions. The company serves as a link between today’s fossil fuel economy and the energy economy of the future. Wholly owned by the Mubadala Development Company PJSC, the strategic investment company of the Government of Abu Dhabi, Masdar is dedicated to the Emirate’s long-term vision for the future of energy and water.
For further information please contact:
Nigel Tompkins [the Norfolk contact for media and community enquiries].
New Ideas for Business
T: 01263 822427
M: 07860 206565
E: nigel@ni4b.co.uk
or
Morten Eek
Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm project
T:+47 416 89515
E: meek@statoil.com
Issue date: 19-11-15