Today the new Danish Ambassador to the UK was welcomed by DONG Energy at Belfast Harbour. The Harbour is currently being completely rebuilt so that it can be used for offshore wind installation.
Henrik Scheinemann, Senior Director at DONG Energy was on site wrapped up warm to welcome Anne Hedensted Steffensen. She was taken around the rapidly developing quayside and shown how the harbour is being prepared to cope with the ships and large components needed for offshore wind installation.
“ The harbour will be a bespoke facility for offshore wind installation and will boost the efficiency of construction work. This is an example of our commitment to the UK as a primary market for offshore wind farms ” Henrik Scheinemann said.
The Belfast Harbour Commission will invest £50 million in the harbour development and DONG Energy will have exclusive rights to the Harbour for the first 10 years through Leasing Rights. Construction is due to finish in October and DONG Energy will take over on the 1 January 2013.
“ We will be using the harbour initially for the construction of the West of Duddon Sands wind farm where offshore construction will commence in early 2013, ” Scheinemann continued. “ The project, located in the Irish Sea, has already started preparations for onshore construction so the timing of the harbour completion and handover to us should work out perfectly .”
The Ambassador started in her new role in the UK on 1 September 2011 and this is one of her first meetings with DONG Energy. Before taking this post, she was State Secretary for Trade and Corporate Affairs at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she was also a member of the Senior Management Group.
[mappress] Offshore Wind Staff , February 17, 2012; Image: belfast-harbour