EMS Opens Berthing Jetty for Offshore Vessels

EMS Maritime Offshore GmbH (EMO) opened its Offshore Wind Terminal on 26 September in Eemshaven, the Netherlands. As the first step, a non-tidal floating jetty has been inaugurated in the Beatrix Harbour, where soon up to ten Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) may berth and can be supplied at the same time.

Marijke van Beek, Mayor of Eemsmond, rang in the operation of the new jetty with the stroke of a bell. “It is nice to see that a company like AG EMS adds a new service to the portfolio of its subsidiary EMS Maritime Offshore – we are proud of it,” van Beek explained.

With the extension of their port area in the Beatrix Harbour, EMO said it invests in the future of offshore wind and reacts to the extended demand of the market. “We are gradually extending our facilities and thus can regard the demands of the market in our planning,” explains Knut Gerdes, Managing Director of EMO.

In the first step, a new floating jetty has been installed to provide a safe berth for the vessels directly at the terminal. The jetty has a length of 150 m and can offer a permanent berth for up to 10 offshore vessels. In addition, the jetty provides four fresh water supplies and ten connections to land power supply. A water depth of 6m enables even bigger vessels to berth easily.

The jetty is optimally suited for serving CTVs, since the floating bridge compensates the tidal range in Eemshaven and thus provides a safe passage for crew and service technicians to their vessel. Furthermore, small components, spare parts and supply goods can be provided to the vessels via the jetty.

“We believe in the high profitability of Eemshaven and we are strongly working on the extension of our terminal,” admits Gino Hubers, Base Manager in Eemshaven. With the increasing installation and operation of wind farms in the North Sea, the demand for reliable services, appropriate storage and handling areas and fast access to safe berths increases as well.

With EMO’s new offshore facility the AG EMS Group further extends its engagement in the offshore sector. Already since 1976 AG EMS Nederland b.v. – Borkumlijn – has been working in Eemshaven, being its oldest company. With its ferry terminal in the Beatrix Harbour, the company has started operating its third facility in 2008 and thus met the increasing demand for the Borkum ferry. “We believe in synergy effects within the company, therefore the proximity of the ferry terminal is an additional advantage of EMO. The connection to the railway network, which is scheduled for spring 2018, will be another bonus,” explains AG EMS Chairman Dr. Bernhard Brons.

Further extension measures until 2017 include the pavement of the area and the construction of a warehouse with neighbouring office facilities. The future developments also integrate the service portfolio of offshore subsidiary WINDEA Offshore and its partners. Thus, in the near future it will be possible to provide in Eemshaven multiple solutions from one source: Aviation, Maritime, Medical and Coordination Services.

The competences of EMS Maritime Offshore GmbH, which has been founded in 2010, lie especially in the supply of offshore wind farms with focus on Service and Crew Transfer Vessels. In addition, EMO provides Guard Vessels for offshore construction sites. Harbour and storage logistics as well as harbour management at sites and base ports like Eemshaven, Borkum, Emden, Cuxhaven, Büsum and Helgoland add to EMO’s scope.

Control centres for offshore wind farms are being operated in Berne, Bremerhaven, Horneby (DK) and in Sassnitz. Today the company has about 100 employees; AG EMS Group has over 400 in total.

Image: EMS Maritime Offshore