Danish dredger aids efforts to build Buckie wind farm base
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WORK to prepare Buckie Harbour to serve as an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) base for a new Moray Firth wind farm has been proceeding apace.
As part of the plan to convert a basin at the harbour to service Ocean Wind's Moray West Offshore Wind Farm, a Danish grab dredger, the Aase Hoj, has been brought in to join the effort.
A Moray Council spokesperson said: “The council’s dredger MV Selkie remains the primary resource for routine maintenance dredging of the council’s harbours.
"However, it was agreed by the council last year to procure an additional external dredging resource in preparation for the use of Buckie Harbour as an operation and maintenance facility for offshore wind operations.”
Meanwhile, construction work continues on the O&M base itself, situated on a brownfield site opposite pier 3 at the harbour.
Due to be operational next year, the 1991m2 facility will act as a base for service technicians to prepare equipment for use on the wind farm and kit up prior to boarding the multicat Crew Transfer Vessels that will be berthed alongside new pontoons in the harbour.
Staff will also be based in the facility to manage the warehouse, health and safety and equipment monitoring of the wind farm. Recruitment for the new O&M base is under way, with around 60 long term roles to be based out of Buckie.
A groundbreaking ceremony at the site was held on May 30, with the then Minister for Energy Gillian Martin MSP doing the honours.
