kent wind farms Working with local suppliers

Transcription

1 kent wind farms Working with local suppliers

2 LOcal success stories Vattenfall have been committed to ensuring that our approach to procurement and investment supports local businesses enabling them to enter and prosper in the renewable energy sector. Total Jobs Spotting an opportunity We started out erecting a fence to protect Vattenfall s onshore cabling works during construction of Thanet Offshore Wind Farm; after carrying out general maintenance for a few years we decided to explore working offshore. Total Jobs Brian, Bradley and Aaron Dale from Total Jobs Contracts Limited took advantage of an opportunity when they started doing odd jobs for Vattenfall. Tony and his team told us exactly what we would need to do and once we had obtained all the necessary certificates, Vattenfall helped train us up in different areas of general maintenance on the wind turbines. Five years on and we are now working on safety equipment, carrying out general maintenance checks on the turbines, including working at water level inside the monopile foundations. No day is ever the same. Funding from Grow:Offshore has allowed us to take further qualifications and expand on our existing experience within the industry and in turn we hope to one day expand our own workforce. We really appreciate the support that Vattenfall have given us to grow into this exciting industry. Brian Dale, Total Jobs John Gilson VIP water taxi out to the wind farm John Gilson s initial plan was to retire from fishing and take out anglers and tourists. He is now regularly used by Vattenfall to take out VIPs. Over the last few years I have taken out foreign dignatories, TV crews (from home and abroad), government officials and Lords and ladies. I ve met a lot of interesting people through this work in some very interesting conditions! Business is building and the summer is looking busy. John Gilson, Skipper, Fish Tickler III Fish Ticker III

3 Barnes Offshore Fishermen turned guard boat Excel Marine Construction Crew Transfer Vessel Barnes Offshore Matt and Steve Barnes are local Whitstable fishermen who spotted an opportunity which they run alongside fishing activities. We invested a lot of money in our fishing vessels and now carry out guard boat duties and survey work for the Vattenfall wind farms. More recently we have been contracted to work on the Kentish Flats Extension so we will have a busy summer. Obtaining certificates to work on the wind farm was a lot of work and expense but it has really paid off. More recently, we have been contracted by Vattenfall to carry out early survey work on the Thanet Extension project which involves using all our vessels. We have just bought a new boat to add to our fleet and know that this would not have been possible without the extra work we have been given by Vattenfall. The Vulcan, Excel Marine Excel Marine is based in Herne bay and were contracted to work on the existing Kentish Flats project (both pre and post-construction). We first provided vessels for various post-construction surveys. We also supplied crew transfer vessels when the original transition pieces were installed and have been contracted fairly regularly since for repairs and maintenance. It was well worth the investment as we are also kept busy on other projects around the UK. We are delighted to celebrate Kentish Flats 10 year anniversary by coming home to work on the extension project. We are hoping to use our latest vessel The Vulcan to carry out this work. Les Bates, Excel Marine All vessels involved in one way or another and are hoping for future. Matt Barnes, Barnes Offshore Oyster Press Lithographic and Digital Printers We have been carrying out printing work for Vattenfall for over 5 years. Our work has ramged from brochures to banners and more recently we printed documents relating to the Kentish Flats Extension project. We look forward to continuing this relationship for years to come. In fact the brochure you are reading was printed by our company. Clive Tucker, Oyster Press, Whitstable Clive Tucker

4 HART Height and Rescue Training TW Services Ramsgate Height and Rescue Training HART (Height and Rescue Training) are the training division of Checkmate Lifting & Safety Ltd. Based on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, Checkmate are designers and manufacturers of height safety & rescue equipment and lifting slings. For over four years, HART and Vattenfall work closely together to ensure the competency of their employees and in seeking ways to improve procedures and equipment. The rollout of the new D2 Rapid Evacuation System is an excellent example of this collaboration. HART also took great pleasure in delivering practical demonstrations on our Mobile Work at Height Rig during recent Vattenfall Safety Days which received excellent feedback from all involved. Colin Taylor TW Services is a dynamic recycling, renewable energy and waste management company focussed and committed to the avoidance of landfill and the creation of renewable energy. We are based in Sandwich in Kent and are in close proximity to the local wind farms. We have been fortunate to have worked side by side with Vattenfall for a number of years consulting on a number of waste related projects and maintenance programs. This has enabled us to see and understand their daily challenges. We are grateful to Vattenfall for using a local company and looking forward to working together in the future. Colin Taylor, Special Waste Sales Executive Our close working relationship and delivery of our bespoke services to Vattenfall further enhance Checkmate s unparalleled reputation for industry leading services, products and innovation. Diane Chilley, Sales Administrator Royal Harbour Hotel Ramsgate Royal Harbour Hotel This Ramsgate based hotel is well known at Vattenfall and many colleagues and contractors are frequent visitors. It s great that Vattenfall support local hotels it s a welcome boost particularly during off peak periods. David Dray, Hotel Manager, Royal Harbour Hotel David Dray

5 CWind Crew Transfer Vessel using TFA Fuels facility in Ramsgate Harbour TFA Fuels Fuelling TFA Fuels was set up in 2000 with the objective of providing cheaper fuel for local fishermen. The arrival of two wind farm companies at Ramsgate Harbour changed the face of this company and it had to adapt and cater for a much larger demand. Not including contractors, such as survey vessels, Vattenfall alone has spent over 2.5m on gasoil with TFA Fuels and this figure will increase if the wind farm extension goes ahead. Not only does our wind farm indirectly contribute towards cheaper fuel for the fishermen, 25 fishermen, and the Fishermen s Association, are shareholders of this company and receive annual dividends. The decision by Vattenfall to operate their vessels from Ramsgate Harbour and use TFA Fuel services, has undoubtedly given considerable help to the local Fishermen at a time when they need it most. Vattenfall now represent almost 30% of our business and we look forward to that continuing. Merlin Jackson, Director, TFA Fuels CWind Providing Crew Transfer Vessels Our vessels provide transport for the Technicians who service all three local windfarms. All the four vessels were designed and built in the UK in the Isle of Wight. We were keen to ensure that where possible our vessels were crewed by local people. At present there are 20 people (18 of whom live locally) employed to run the vessels (16 full time crew, 2 superintendents, 1 engineer). CWind also recently took on a full time engineering apprentice who attends a local college and lives with his family in Ramsgate. We attempt to use local companies in the servicing and supplying of our vessels and use the local outlets in the Ramsgate Arches for our general needs. We have a good working relationship with TFA Fuels. We also use the port slipping facilities to service the vessels. We are proud to be associated with Vattenfall and are pleased that they chose us a UK company to supply and run the UK built vessels from Ramsgate and look forward continuing to provide a first class service to our valued customer. Peter Richards, CWind

6 A boost for local harbours Ramsgate and Whitstable Harbours have benefitted from 10 years of wind farm activity and Whitstable Harbour was the first harbour to benefit from having an Operations & Maintenance base. Whitstable Harbour We have had a good working relationship with Vattenfall and the offshore wind industry has given harbour operations a welcome financial boost. Fitting their activities into the harbour was a challenge at first but full co-operation on both sides has made it the mutually beneficial operation it is today. The effects of having the wind farm in town has also been felt across the borders of the harbour as Vattenfall have integrated into the community in a host of positive ways. Mike Weir, Harbour Master Further along the coast, Ramsgate harbour has also benefitted from wind farm activity. Ramsgate Harbour is very experienced in dealing with all aspects of wind farm projects and is currently home to operations and maintenance for a total of 305 offshore turbines (including London Array) off the Port of Ramsgate. We look forward to an additional burst of activity associated with the Vattenfall extension project. Ramsgate Harbour An excellent working relationship has been nurtured between the offshore sector and existing stakeholders by the Port, in conjunction with both the teams associated with the two Operations and Maintenance facilities. These relationships are strengthened and maintained through the quarterly meetings of the Harbour User Group, the Port User Group and the monthly Offshore Interface Group meetings, all of which are minuted. The arrival of the offshore sector has directly provided a range of both skilled and semi-skilled, secure jobs for local people and this, coupled with uplift in associated local supply chain, continues to boost our district s economic prosperity. We look forward to positively responding to embrace developments with all future offshore renewable opportunities with the arrival of exciting new green and blue technological advances, to provide clean, renewable power generation for Europe. Robert Brown Harbour Master and Marine Operations Manager, Port of Ramsgate. Contact Information: Mel Rogers, Local liaison officer Vattenfall Wind Power Limited Military Road Ramsgate Kent CT11 9LG E melanie.rogers@vattenfall.com T