Collaboration in practice for offshore wind

30 participants from industry, technology and logistics visited Fjord Base in Florø this week – one of Norway's most important offshore bases.

The purpose of the site-visit was for the SAMvind project participants to explore how Vestland can strengthen its role in the emerging offshore wind industry, with a particular focus on how existing offshore infrastructure and expertise can be used in new markets.

The industry meets where it happens

SAMvind moves the discussions out of the meeting rooms and into the industry.

The gathering at Fjord Base gave the participants a unique opportunity to experience capacity, activity and opportunities up close.

With strong attendance from industry across Vestland County, we were given a solid introduction to the operating model at Saga Fjordbase and the interaction between the base, Equinor and the suppliers in the area, Kurt R. Andreassen of Tertnes Holding.

After a welcome from the management at Fjord Base, GCE Ocean Technology by project manager Atle Dåvøy gave an update on the status of the SAMvind project.

Here, the background for the work, the objectives and the importance of increased interaction between the actors in Vestland were clearly highlighted.

Through presentations from players such as Equinor, Saga Fjordbase, Aksello, Westcon, Oceaneering, Halliburton and more, the participants gained insight into the breadth of expertise and activity that exists in the region.

The gathering ended with a physical tour of Fjord Base, as well as a company visit to Westcon's yard in Florø which gave us valuable insights into the operational everyday life and capacity that exists in the region.

Collaboration as a competitive advantage

A recurring theme was how the bases in Vestland can complement each other and together form a strong industrial system.

We gained insight into topics such as industrial symbiosis, shipyard industry, cod farming and digitalisation, Marita Våge, CCB

Industrial symbiosis was repeated by the speakers, and several pointed out how crucial interaction and sharing of expertise and knowledge is for success.

Another key message was that Vestland must be developed as a unified capacity – where the players build on each other's strengths, to be able to take a strong position in offshore wind as well.

Instead of seeing the bases as individual locations, the work in SAMvind points to the value of increased interaction – where capacity, expertise and infrastructure are linked together to meet the needs of the offshore wind market.

This is particularly relevant in light of the increasing complexity of offshore wind projects, where implementation capacity and system capacity will in many cases be just as important as geographical proximity.

From offshore- to offshore wind

The gathering also clarified how the existing offshore industry in Vestland represents a solid foundation for further investment in offshore wind.

Expertise in logistics, installation, operation and maintenance is directly transferable and gives the region a good starting point for taking positions in both floating and bottom-fixed offshore wind.

The way forward

SAMvind will continue the work of developing interaction between bases, municipalities and the supplier industry in Vestland.

The goal is to strengthen the region's ability to take on larger and more complex industrial contracts – and help ensure that value creation from offshore wind takes place in Norway to the greatest possible extent.