INVERLUSSA Marine Services, who operate a mussel farm on the Isle of Mull, has won a contract with the world’s largest offshore developer, writes Janice Burns.
In a joint venture with Mainprize Offshore Ltd, the firm has won a two-and-a-half-year, multimillion-pound contract to provide sea support during the construction phase of the Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm.
The wind farm being built by Dong Energy is located 17 miles off the east coast of England.
The Inverlussa team and vessel will work out of Grimsby and perform a number of roles including guard-asset protection, dive support, supply of fuel, food, water and spares, maintenance of meteorological buoys, debris clearance, and emergency tug.
The work will be carried out on the Helen Mary vessel, a specially designed ship which was built in the Macduff shipyards, Aberdeenshire, as part of a £3.5 million investment to allow the company to expand into the renewables sector.
Through this expansion, Inverlussa Marine, at Loch Spelve, near Craignure, has been able to hire nine new members of staff, taking the total workforce to about 50.
Ben Wilson, managing director of Inverlussa Marine Services, said: “Winning this major contract is a great start to our expansion into the renewables sector.
“There was a lot of competition from very experienced European vessel operators for this contract, our vessel offered something very different from the normal guard vessel. We look forward to working with Dong Energy and Mainprize Offshore Ltd on this project.”
Jason Ledden, construction project manager for Race Bank at Dong Energy, said it was committed to using UK suppliers whenever possible. He added: “Race Bank is a significant offshore wind farm which will be capable of powering over half a million UK homes, and these two UK companies will play a vital role in construction.
“It’s also really encouraging to hear this contract has led to new staff being taken on at Inverlussa Marine Services and has helped the business kick-start its expansion into the renewables sector.”
Bob Mainprize, managing director, Mainprize Offshore Ltd, said winning the contract was fantastic news for Scotland.
Dong Energy is the largest offshore wind farm builder in the world.
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