Port of Cherbourg is getting ready for the first French offshore wind farms, with 44ha of port land alongside a heavy-load quay with a bearing capacity of 15t/m2 already available for the marine renewable energies sector.
The new heavy-load quay has been in service since March 2015.
With the ongoing extension works undertaken by Ports of Normandy Authority, 100ha altogether will be available for use at the port in 2016, representing €100 million of investments.
The adaptation works of the outer harbour of Caen-Ouistreham, which will be used as a maintenance base for the Courseulles-sur-Mer wind farm, will start in the first semester of 2016 and are expected to be completed in 2017. The objective is to allow the wind farm contracting authority to construct business offices and accommodate vessels bringing workers and cargo to and from the offshore wind farm.
During construction of the Courseulles site, vessels aiding in the said construction will also make use of these new installations.
In the second semester of 2016, the port will have completed its development.
Works on access roads and railway lines will be completed by the end of 2015, Ports of Normandy Authority said.
Image: Robert Lebarbier/PNA