Fred. Olsen 1848 backs Opportunity Cromarty Firth’s Green Freeport bid with plans for an innovative Mobile Port Solution

Fred. Olsen 1848, a renewable energy innovation company, is exploring the deployment of a mobile quayside, known as the Mobile Port Solution, as part of Opportunity Cromarty Firth’s(OCF) bid to become a Green Freeport.

Building upon the existing infrastructure and competencies for manufacturing, assembly and integration of large industrial scale floating offshore wind structures, the Mobile Port Solution will enhance the floating offshore wind supply chain and infrastructure in Scotland, not the least in the Highlands, and contribute to establishing a floating offshore wind cluster in Inverness and the Cromarty Firth.

The Mobile Port Solution is based on proven technology with minimum environmental impact and builds on existing infrastructure. A wind turbine installation vessel combined with a storage barge, will be located at a suitable location within Cromarty Firth, creating sufficient space and working conditions during the pre-assembly, pre-commissioning, and wind turbine installation on the floating foundation.

CEO of Fred. Olsen 1848, Sofie Olsen Jebsen, states: “Our journey in renewables began 30 years ago, and today Fred. Olsen-related companies employ more than 2,500 people within the renewable energy sector and have in-depth experience from offshore wind. With more than 380 employed people in Scotland across the Fred. Olsen related companies, our focus has always been to create value for the Scottish economy, local suppliers and communities.

“By setting up the Mobile Port Solution in the Firth, Fred. Olsen 1848 would provide an immediate solution for the rapid and cost-efficient installation of floating offshore wind, enabling the creation of new attractive green job opportunities, not only to the Firth but also for the UK in general. This presents an opportunity for the whole Scottish supply chain, including Fred. Olsen 1848 and other Fred. Olsen-related companies, and we support the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport bid.”

The opportunity was further described in a letter of support to OCF’s Green Freeport bid from Esben Strandgaard Kyndesen, Chief Commercial Officer of Fred. Olsen 1848. Kyndesen stated that Inverness and the Cromarty Firth has “the ideal geographical location” for a floating offshore wind cluster as recommended by the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council (SOWEC) in a recent independent report.

He said: “Cromarty Firth offers ideal infrastructure and competencies for manufacturing, assembly and integration of floating offshore wind structures at the size and scale required by the industry, which will be enhanced further with the innovative Mobile Port Solution.“

Bob Buskie, Chief Executive of the Port of Cromarty Firth, speaking on behalf of OCF, said: “OCF is delighted that Fred. Olsen 1848 is supporting our bid to achieve Green Freeport status for Inverness and the Cromarty Firth. The importance of this status to not only the Highlands but also Scotland as a whole cannot be underestimated. It would bring skilled green jobs and high-wage opportunities on a level not seen since the 1970s oil boom.

“The Fred. Olsen 1848 Mobile Port Solution would increase available infrastructure and, used in conjunction with the excellent existing port facilities at Invergordon and Nigg, would enable the Firth to support a larger number of offshore wind projects and accelerate the shift to green energy.”