September 20 - Managers at English east coast gateway Harwich International Port have played host to a high-level delegation from the Chinese offshore wind industry.

The chairman of Hongbo Nantong Windpower Equipment and four senior executives from the ZTT Submarine Cable Company, together with representatives of the Nantong Bureau of Commerce and the Maritime Union, visited the port to explore opportunities in the UK and to learn more about the East Anglia Energy Coast.

David GledhillHutchison Ports CEO, which owns Harwich International Port, commented: "Having already assisted with three of the UK's major wind energy sites at Greater Gabbard, Thanet and London Array, we are pleased that Harwich is becoming internationally renowned for its green energy facilities. Sustainable energy sources are of paramount importance, and it is good to know that Harwich has the right location, facilities, and expertise to support current, and future, wind farm developments, both nationally and worldwide." 

Nantong Hongbo Windpower Equipment Limited has the capacity to manufacture 400 sets of towers per year and 600 gearboxes. The company aims to be the biggest in China with a capacity greater than 1,000 sets per year. It currently supply VestasGamesaSiemens, Fuji and the leading Chinese domestic wind power companies.

ZTT is the largest vertically-integrated cable manufacturer in China and has the biggest R&D capacity in this sector in China. It supplies the China National Offshore Oil Company and is increasingly supplying the China offshore wind industry.