The Port of Blyth has set its sights on becoming a major project cargo hub for offshore energy projects. The port has recently been selected by Seaway 7 as the location for the storage and mobilisation of inter-array cable for the Seagreen offshore wind farm.

The Northumberland based port has already started to receive cable into quayside storage tanks, designed and built by their in-house technical team. In total, approximately 12,000 tonnes of inter-array cable will pass through the Port’s Battleship Wharf Terminal, prior to installation offshore across 2022.

Commenting on the secured contract, Martin Lawlor, chief executive of Port of Blyth, said it will help the port to attract further contracts to support the sector.

In addition, the Seagreen contract will provide a boost to training and education around the Blyth Estuary, providing “real world” experience to students of STEM subjects, from primary school to apprenticeship level, gaining inspiration from offshore energy related activity.

Seagreen OWF project

The 1,075MW Seagreen ofshore wind farm project is located 27 kilometres off the coast of Angus in the North Sea firth. A £3 billion joint venture between TotalEnergies (51 percent) and SSE Renewables (49 percent), Seagreen will be Scotland’s largest and deepest offshore wind farm when complete.

Port of Blyth is looking to take advantage of its strategic mid North Sea location and eyes the role of a mobilisation base for wind farms down the UK’s east coast.