A LEADING Scottish maritime services company has taken delivery of a new offshore wind farm support vessel, further demonstrating its intent to be a major player in the burgeoning worldwide renewables sector.
And today (Monday June 25) Maritime Craft Services’ MSC Sirocco goes straight into service, working on the Thornton Bank Offshore Wind Project in Belgium for international offshore contractors Tideway bv. The vessel will primarily be used to transfer personnel to and from the project’s base port in Ostend to the offshore wind platforms, along with utilising her large deck-carrying capacity by returning waste materials to Ostend.
Sirocco is the latest purpose-built addition to Maritime Craft Services’ now sixteen-strong fleet. Along with its sister ship MCS Pampero, due for delivery at the end of the year, it represents a £6m investment by the flourishing Largs-based company.
MCS Managing Director Dirk Kuijt said: “With the development of Round 3 offshore wind farms steadily coming on-stream, we envisage many additional opportunities for the company. We’re therefore delighted to be taking delivery of these two new vessels which both strengthen our fleet and enhance our offering to renewables customers.”
MCS has been in business since 1976 and for the last ten years has operated on a number of key international offshore wind farm projects including the UK’s London Array and Sheringham Shoal, Denmark’s Horns Rev, Belgium’s Thornton Bank and Belwind, and Germany’s Bard Offshore 1.
With a staff of 140 and a growing customer base in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the UK, it owns and operates a modern fleet of purpose-built offshore wind farm support vessels. Equipped with the latest technology, they are capable of safe and secure docking with offshore wind turbines during the construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance phases.
Mr Kuijt explained: “In UK waters alone, there are sixteen offshore wind farms currently in operation, six under construction and a further sixteen either given consent or in planning. And with numerous other offshore projects around the world, we believe there are significant opportunities for an experienced company committed to providing the very best logistical support to contractors and project owners.
“Our vessels are carefully and robustly designed to transport personnel and equipment in comfort and safety to offshore wind turbines, and in the last twelve months we have completed over 40,000 such transfers. MCS Sirocco and Pampero will allow us to significantly increase this number in the years ahead.”
In addition, its other tugs and Multicats work internationally to provide support in dredging, towage, oil and gas installation, and port and harbour construction. The company are also experts in seabed levelling.
MCS is now ISO 9001:2008 certified. “Achieving this standard reinforces our commitment to delivering a high-quality service with an emphasis on safety, cost-effectiveness and client satisfaction,” observed Mr Kuijt.
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Offshore WIND staff, June 25, 2012; Image: