The Port of Rotterdam is creating a new 70-hectare space for a specialist offshore centre for wind energy at sea, decommissioning oil and gas platforms and the oil and gas market.
Offshore Centre Maasvlakte 2 (OCMV2) will be located in Princess Alexiahaven against the seawall, near the berth of the heavy lift vessel Pioneering Spirit. The Port Authority will initially reclaim the first 30 hectares and install a heavy load deep sea quay, initially of 600 meters, with the necessary infrastructure. The plan is that the first businesses will become operational on OCMV2 in the course of 2019. The centre could potentially be extended by a further 40 hectares and 1,000 meters of quay wall.
The creation of what will be Europe’s first offshore centre reflects the Port Authority’s policy of pursuing the growth of Rotterdam’s cluster of businesses in the offshore and maritime sectors.
“The creation of wind farms at sea is a huge growth market. This requires a specialized port area for the installation and maintenance of the farms, which we would like to provide. This is consistent with our efforts to be the offshore hub of Europe and play a leading role in the energy transition,” says Allard Castelein, CEO of the Port Authority.
For some time, offshore has been a policy focus for the Port Authority, with wind energy and decommissioning as key areas. Among other things, this has led to the involvement in the completion of the Pioneering Spirit and the establishment of Sif (a company specializing in the production of wind turbine foundations). A number of Rotterdam businesses also signed a manifesto last year for the formation of the Port of Rotterdam Offshore Wind Coalition.