The UK’s Harwich International port has officially started construction of a GBP10 million (USD12.75 million) operations and maintenance (O&M) base for the Galloper offshore wind farm.

Harwich International general manager, Daren Taylor (second left), with representatives from Galloper at the O&M facility’s ground-breaking ceremony.

The base will be home to the team that operate and maintain the 353 MW wind farm, located approximately 30 km off the coast of Suffolk. Construction of the O&M facility is planned to take 12 months to complete.

Commenting on the start of works, Mark Seaman, finance director of Hutchison Ports (UK), owner of Harwich International, said: “Our strategic location, providing sheltered, lock-free facilities close to the North Sea is ideal for offshore support activities. Having already acted as the construction base for a number of wind farm developments, the new base will provide a purpose-built facility around which further opportunities in the offshore energy sector can be progressed over the next few years.”

www.hpuk.co.uk