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PRESS RELEASE ,1st October 2007 |
THANET OFFSHORE WIND FARM
INSTALLATION VESSEL SECURED FOR CONSTRUCTION PHASE
Thanet Offshore Wind Limited (TOW) has signed a Reservation Agreement with A2SEA A/S for the long term use of the vessel the SEA JACK for the main construction periods for the Thanet project. Starting in September 2008 the SEA JACK will be used to install the wind turbine foundations and will then continue with the erection of the turbines in the summer and autumn of 2009.
'This is another significant milestone for the Thanet project' commented Mark Petterson, Project Director. ‘ A2SEA comes with a very strong track record in this sector and the SEA JACK is an ideal vessel for the requirements of the project'
A2SEA UK Sales Manager, Mike Prowse commented, ‘We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with TOW that demonstrates our mutual commitment to this important project. We look forward to working closely with TOW and the other main contractors to deliver a successful project'.
SEA JACK was specifically built to service the growing offshore wind market. At over 90 metres long, 33 metres beam and with a powerful Manitowoc M1200 Ringer crane, the barge is an ideal platform for large scale offshore wind projects such as Thanet.
Thanet received all of the consent required to construct and operate the scheme in December 2006, the first UK Round 2 project to achieve this milestone. It is expected to be the first Round 2 offshore wind farm to be built in the UK and is targeted to commence power generation in 2009.
Thanet will create a number of temporary jobs during the construction phase and over 25 full time jobs thereafter. The project will produce on average enough electricity to supply 240,000 homes with green electricity.
Christofferson, Robb & Company (CRC) purchased TOW in September 2007 and are providing the funding required to construct the project. Warwick Energy Limited (WEL), the original developer of the scheme, has a long term agreement with TOW to manage the construction and operation of the project.
Contact: Mark Petterson Director, Warwick Energy Ltd 01789 471091 Warwick Energy Limited, Wellesbourne House, Wellesbourne, Warwick, CV35 9JB