Belfast investment benefits builders

The project, the largest ever in the harbour’s 400 year history, will create 150 construction jobs and generate demand for 1m tons of stone from local quarries.

At the end of 2011 it was confirmed that Northern Ireland based Farrans (Construction) Ltd has won the contract to deliver the new terminal. The 50 acre facility will initially support the construction of the West of Duddon Sands offshore wind farm, a 50/50 joint venture between DONG Energy and ScottishPower Renewables. The facility will then be utilised by DONG Energy for its future Irish Sea operations.

Work on the terminal, now underway, will take 750,000 man hours to complete before it opens in 2013. The development is the first bespoke offshore wind installation and pre-assembly harbour in the UK, and is part of Belfast Harbour’s wider plans to create a renewable energy hub.

Welcoming the DETI and DRD Ministers, along with representatives from DONG Energy and ScottishPower Renewables to a site visit, Len O’Hagan, chairman of Belfast Harbour said, “The appointment of Farrans to develop this major marine engineering project is great news for Northern Ireland’s hard pressed construction sector, but the potential to promote Belfast as a centre for renewable energy projects may yield even greater rewards for the wider economy.”

Eamonn Sweeney, Farrans MD added, “We were delighted to have been awarded this project by Belfast Harbour, with whom we have had a long term relationship through the construction of many major marine projects in the past. The project is a much needed boost for Farrans in these difficult times and will provide employment for many within the company and in the supply chain.

“It is a massive scheme requiring in excess of 100,000 tons of concrete and 500,000 machine hours, and it is very satisfying to see a local company win this ahead of stiff international competition.”

The new facility, designed by Northern Ireland firm, Doran Consulting, is one element of a £1.6bn investment by DONG Energy and ScottishPower Renewables to develop an offshore wind farm known as West of Duddon Sands. Located nine miles from the Cumbrian coast at Barrow-in-Furness, the site will generate 389MW, enough to meet the energy requirements of 300,000 homes, when it becomes operational in 2014.

The £50m cost of the terminal will be funded entirely by Belfast Harbour which will, in turn, lease the facility to DONG Energy. Over 100 turbines, each with a rotor diameter of 120m, will be shipped to Belfast before being transported using two purpose built installation vessels. West of Duddon Sands will be one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms when it is commissioned in 2014.