Ocean Winds has opened its new operations & maintenance (O&M) base in Buckie, Scotland, that will service the Moray West offshore wind farm once it becomes fully operational in 2025.
The First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, visited the facility on 9 September to mark the opening of the Ocean Winds’ O&M base with associated quayside improvements.
The facility, built by Scottish contractors, includes offices, warehousing, and training facilities, as well as a redeveloped quayside area that features pontoons, cranes, and fuel storage to serve the crew transfer vessels (CTVs) taking personnel and equipment to the wind farm every day.
Once fully operational, the base will handle up to 100 vessel movements a week, Ocean Winds said.
Recruitment for the new O&M base is well advanced towards the full staffing complement for Moray West of more than 60 long-term local roles, according to the company.
The new base at Buckie complements the base in Fraserburgh that Ocean Winds utilises and that is dedicated to the Moray East offshore wind farm, creating an O&M hub that will enable the developer to manage and maintain the cluster of Ocean Winds’ operated offshore wind farms in the Moray Firth, including the planned Caledonia project .
“ Employing local people that will be able to get home to their communities every night is a great result for Buckie, the region and Scotland. Our new Operations & Maintenance hub formed between Buckie and its sister base in Fraserburgh prepares us for efficient long-term operations, supporting long term careers across Moray and Aberdeenshire “, said Adam Morrison , Ocean Winds UK Country Manager.
The 882 MW Moray West offshore wind farm is nearing the end of the construction phase and is planned to become fully operational next year.
The project already delivered the first power from the series of Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222 DD wind turbines and exported to Scotland’s National Electricity Transmission System (NETS), according to the developer.
Moray West, part of Ocean Winds’ 6 GW portfolio of secured offshore wind farms in the UK, is expected to inject over GBP 800 million into the local Scottish economy throughout its lifespan, and during the construction phase, it will create more than 1,500 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) years in Scotland.