Poland's Baltic Power hires vessels to support safety offshore

Polish fishing vessels will support construction safety at sea for Baltic Power, the 1.14-GW offshore wind farm developed by Polish oil refiner Orlen (WSE:PKN) and Canada’s Northland Power (TSE:NPI).

Under a contract with Polish offshore services provider Mewo SA, three guard vessels will operate in the farm area throughout the installation period. Their crews will be tasked to supervise and communicate with other vessels passing in the vicinity of the works, such as fishing, tourist and commercial vessels.

The management of Baltic Power is pleased that the surveillance activities around the construction area will be carried out by local fishing crews who know these waters, board member Jarosław Broda said. Their experience is important not only for safety reasons but also involves the local community in the project, he added.

Baltic Power is the only offshore wind farm project in the Polish waters of the Baltic Sea in the construction phase. In addition to advanced works on building its onshore infrastructure and the production of its key components, final preparations are being made to start construction of the offshore part.

The company has also recently hired two vessels to transport crews to the offshore site from the service base in Leba. Last month, Baltic Power said it had been delivered the first monopiles for its offshore turbines and completed one of the four connections with the onshore substations. A week ago it welcomed its first installation vessel at the port of Gdynia.

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