WORKING AT HEIGHTS - Wind Energy Network

OrbisEnergy EventLogisticsParra went on to outline the logisticsoptions for the East Anglia projectpotentially using a mix of Offshore AccessVessels, Crew Transfer Vessels, OffshoreAccess Platforms and helicopters.Maximum reliability andavailabilityFor turbine manufacturer Areva Wind, UKCountry Director Julian Brown acceptedthat its emphasis must be on maximumreliability and availability, better remotecontrol, easier maintenance and havingskilled people nearby and the right spareparts available when things did go wrong.In test trials offshore in 2011 its sixturbines had proved 98% operational.Round 3 projectsThe company’s interest in the Round 3projects off the region’s coast was nosecret and it meant exciting prospectsfor the region’s supply chain. Mr Brownlooked forward to a long-term involvementwith Lowestoft.Fred. OlsenStuart Thornton, of Fred. Olsen Limited,outlined the company’s new conceptto tackle transport problems in offshorewindfarm O&M - ‘a mother ship’ prototypewhich would accommodate 40 people,transport parts and equipment, be a basefor smaller crew transfer vessels and havestability created from being a one-timefloating casino where the roulette wheelhad to be consistently level!Johnathan Reynolds, BusinessDevelopment Lead for OrbisEnergy,was delighted to see so many leadingcompanies and experts looking to engagethe regional supply chain in supportingand re-defining offshore wind O&M.“We’ve heard from major developersabout the reducing costs throughinventive supply chain models, theapplication of new technology fromScour Prevention Systems, innovativebusiness models from 3Sun, high-growthsuccesses such as Seajacks, and newerentrants like Fred. Olsen Limited.“It’s quite something when a nationallysignificant conference such as thishighlights the leading roles our existingand graduate OrbisEnergy tenantsare playing. Leading from the front, orperhaps in our case, the East!”RenewableUK’s ‘Connect’ eventReturning to Lowestoft for the secondtime, the conference was preceded byRenewableUK’s ‘Connect’ event, withmore than 150 people attending anevening drinks and networking receptionhosted by OrbisEnergy.OrbisEnergywww.orbisenergy.netRenewableUKwww.renewableuk.comwww.windenergynetwork.co.uk99