Partnerships with local businesses close to the Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm are proving mutually beneficial.
Lowestoft-based Jet Adventures and RMI Engineering have both worked with the Hornsea 3 team on artificial nesting sites for kittiwake off the Suffolk coast at Lowestoft and Minsmere.
The specially designed structures – two of which are easily visible from Lowestoft South Pier – are intended as alternative nesting areas for the endangered sea birds.
Tour operator Jet Adventures is run by husband and wife team John and Fliss Kitching. They offer regular boat trips around the harbour, along the coast and for seal watching but now also work for Hornsea 3, taking ornithologists out to the artificial nesting sites so they can monitor nesting activity and observing any chicks that are born. Jet Adventures works with 12 self-employed and casual staff to help run the trips.
John said: “We always wanted to set up a business that would bring work locally. Our town was struggling with the loss of boat building and fishing.
“Ørsted has helped us financially but they’ve also provided training that’s required for the offshore wind industry. They paid for two of our crew to be trained and that’s really good for them as it leads on to more employment opportunities in the future. They also funded safety equipment for our boat to meet their requirements which allows us to do more commercial work.”
RMI Engineering manufactured and fitted a custom-made roof for the nesting sites which incorporated a navigation system with unique safety features They also fitted additional solar powered navigation aids and CCTV to monitor the birds remotely. The company also retains an ongoing contract to check and certify the equipment. RMI Engineering employ 21 people full time and have a pool of 8-10 trusted sub-contractors, all of whom are local.
Chris Hutchinson, Technical Manager at RMI said: “We have a longstanding relationship with Ørsted. Gunfleet Sands was the very first offshore wind farm we worked on so they gave us a foot on the ladder. We’ve since gained experience on other sites and taken that back to them. It’s a reciprocal arrangement between us as both sides benefit.
“Living in Lowestoft, we attend quite a lot of events locally and we’re proud to say we’re involved with the nesting sites and regularly talk to people about them because they’re a good thing for the town.”
Jessica Westcott, Hornsea 3 Project Director at Ørsted, said: “Building strong relationships with our contract partners is very important to us and local businesses play an important part in our success.
“We’re not just supporting them, they’re bringing us valuable knowledge and expertise and we’re proud of the work we do together.”