The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Hywind contractor eyes North Sea arrays
Italian engineer Saipem is in discussion with the developers of windfarms off Angus and Fife as it looks to secure more work in renewables.
Traditionally focused on oil and gas, Saipem is looking to branch further into the offshore wind sector, with developments in the Scottish North Sea of particular interest.
Last year, the Saipem 7000 crane ship installed the assembled turbines and towers for Statoil’s Hywind project on floating foundations at a yard in Norway, before their transportation to Scottish waters.
Saipem executives say they are now talking to the companies behind the Inch Cape and Neart Na Gaoithe (NnG) windfarm projects with a view to providing services.
Paolo Formica, Saipem’s offshore area manager for the North Sea, aboard the Saipem 7000 in Cartagena, Spain, said: “There are a number of projects we’d like to be involved in in the UK continental shelf.
“We are already in discussion with the developers of some of these projects; this is part of our plan, particularly in the Scottish North Sea.”
A company spokesman said: “Currently, the main windfarms being developed in Scotland are NnG project, so we’ve been heavily involved with that.
“Also we’ve just recently received the request for information for (Red Rock Power’s) Inch Cape development.
“We’re in contact with all the main developers.”