Port Oostende contributes to building energy island
Elia Group's Princess Elisabeth Island is the world's first energy island. It is an extension of the electricity grid in the North Sea; an electricity hub connecting offshore wind farms to the mainland and establishing new connections with foreign countries.
Elia Group awarded the tender for the construction of the Princess Elisabeth Island to TM Edison, the temporary partnership between 2 partners Jan De Nul and DEME. TM Edison will now choose Port Ostend as its home base for this mega-project. Project engineering and logistics will move into the Stapelhuis Entrepot from early November 2023.
Port Oostende's objective of anchoring maritime employment in Oostende via the investment it made in the Stapelhuis Entrepot is thus immediately fulfilled. Specifically, this involves some 80 jobs.
In addition, a jetty will be provided in Port Oostende for the crew transfer vessels that will bring the technical and logistics personnel to the energy island daily.
Following the announcement in May this year of Elia’s construction of a service centre for offshore activities in Port Oostende, this is a second success in the context of energy transition in the short term. The position of Port Oostende in the framework of Blue Economy is thus strengthened again.
"It is already known that Port Oostende makes every effort to increase employment. We are particularly pleased that this is now explicitly visible with local employment by housing engineers, logistics and project staff in the Stapelhuis Entrepot."
"The strategy of Port Oostende is based on active participation in the logistics and maritime chain. The expansion of its patrimony with warehouses, office buildings and other infrastructure is essential in this respect. That this strategy is succeeding is confirmed once again with this project. That this project entails further port-related activities is, of course, beyond dispute."
"The puzzle pieces are fitting together well. The targeted investments are steadily increasing activity at Port Oostende and its subsidiaries, including the REBO heavy lift terminal."
Port Oostende
Port Oostende is committed to continuity, growth, and employment within five pillars: Blue Economy, Lift-on Lift-off & Bulk & Project Cargo, Cruises & Roll-on-roll-off, Circular Industry and the Fisheries Sector. These sectors will continue to be built on two foundations: prioritising safety, health, and the environment and, secondly, supporting innovation and development.