Merkur Offshore
Preparations are in full flow for constructing the next wind park in which Eemshaven plays a major logistical role, and the first monopiles (foundation piling) already arrived in Eemshaven. The Merkur Offshore wind park will be one of the largest wind-turbine parks in Germany. GE (General Electric) will deliver 66 offshore turbines with a capacity of 6 MW, which are then installed by DEME. Construction and management are in the hands of Merkur Offshore and the project will be carried out by GeoSea, a member of the DEME Group.

Newcomers
The number of offshore service companies in Eemshaven continues to rise. Logistics services provider DHSS has settled into the shared premises of Nijlicht and is using those as its base for activities for the offshore wind market. Furthermore, KSML recently announced that it has been based in Eemshaven since April. Kraanservice en Montage Leeuwarden is a dynamic business with wide-ranging expertise in hoisting technology and now offers it services on the site of EMS Maritime Offshore. On the same site, Emder Schiffsausrüstungs AG started a branch under the name Groningen Ship Stores in April. From this new location in Beatrixhaven, Groningen Ship Stores offers the complete package of products and services that befits a modern supplier. With the arrival of both companies, the current premises of EMS Maritime Offshore are starting to fill up nicely. A sign that EMS Maritime Offshore took the correct decision with its choice of Eemshaven as an offshore service hub.

Other wind-power news
Eemshaven now also houses the tallest wind turbine in the Netherlands. This  turbine, with a tip height of 200 metres, was installed by the Dutch wind-turbine construction company Lagerwey and in the autumn it will be followed by a second turbine that will be built with a special climbing crane. The largest wind park in the Netherlands, Wind park Gemini, which has a capacity of 600 MW was opened officially on Monday the 8th of May.  At the same time, Gemini introduced a special app for continuous tracking of wind speed at sea, the energy production of Gemini and the CO2 reduction. Over the coming decades, Gemini will meet the energy needs of 1.5 million consumers, which represents the energy needs of the inhabitants of the three Northern Dutch provinces. The reduction in the CO2 emissions are comparable to the emissions of 50,000 vehicles that drive 25,000 kilometres a year each.

More wind turbines at sea
There are many more wind parks planned, particularly for the German Bight in the North Sea. However, there is still space in the Dutch part. Near the Gemini wind park, north of Schiermonnikoog, there is room for 1,000 wind turbines and the Groningen Provincial Executive has asked the State to release the area. At the moment it is partly used as a military training area and this training area would need to be moved for the purpose of planning permission. It merely highlights that the Groningen Provincial Executive gives top priority to the increase in offshore business and the associated branches and that it considers Eemshaven to be at the heart of it all.

Offshore Wind Energy 2017
From 6-8 June, the largest international offshore wind conference and exhibition takes place in London. From a stand (stand S-H30) in the Holland Pavilion, employees of Groningen Seaports will be promoting Eemshaven as the base port and service port for offshore wind logistics.

Eemshaven
Eemshaven has a favourable geographic location for the logistics servicing and maintenance of wind parks in the North Sea. With a heavy-duty quay, jack-up facilities just in front of the quay, space, adequate draught, experienced logistics service providers, jetties and office space, Eemshaven has all the facilities and provides opportunities for businesses that operate in the offshore wind business. A heliport is under development and the distance to the wind parks, be they under construction, complete or planned, is short. Eemshaven is justifiably the base port and service port for the offshore wind industry.

Offshore wind activities in base port and service port Eemshaven