Dubai-based Lamprell has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with energy services developer NOV to provide fabrication, assembly and outfitting for Cerulean Winds' three 1GW floating wind farms off the West of Shetland and in the Central North Sea.
Under the terms of the deal, NOV will use Lamprell as its provider for the fabrication, assembly and outfitting for the floating foundations.
Cerulean applied to develop a 3GW floating wind turbine project off the UK coast last June, with NOV becoming the the first of its major delivery partners for the proposed 200 turbine development. If approved, the project is anticipated to be commissioned in 2026.
Lamprell chief executive Christopher McDonald said: “Offshore floating wind is a natural progression for the business and represents another step in the realisation of our strategy and establishing our credentials in the UK market.”
The two companies stated they will work closely to support UK local content goals and will “engage together in discussions with UK supply chain and UK yard(s) interested in participating in the projects, and able to offer suitable solutions”.
However, the GMB Union, which has tens of thousands of members in the energy industry, has warned this deal could lead to yet more offshoring of UK renewables jobs.
Previously, Lamprell secured hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of contracts for renewables projects in Scotland, including Moray East, Seagreen 1 and Moray West project.
These contracts have been and are being manufactured at Lamprell’s Hamriyah and Sharjah yards in the UAE, before being shipped to their final destinations in British waters on barges.
Gary Cook, GMB organiser, said: “I’m disgusted by it, it sickens me to the core, these so-called ‘just transition’ jobs – where are they?
“Offshore wind has a huge role to play in meeting our energy needs, but instead of securing the vital skills and tens of thousands of jobs that come with it for UK workers, Ministers at Westminster and Holyrood have been asleep at the wheel.
“It’s a national scandal that UK workers and communities are being forced to watch as multi-million pound contracts for these industries of the future are sent overseas to companies based in authoritarian regimes, including those linked to the disgraced DP World.
“If we are to secure our energy future and keep our nation safe, we need to bring these vital jobs and skills home.”
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