Dutch subsea service firm N-Sea is hoping for explosive growth in the renewables market over the next few years.
Roddy James, chief operating officer at N-Sea, said the company had made a big effort to expand into green power and has “grown with the sector” over the past five years.
Mr James said N-Sea was offering services from survey work to un-exploded ordnance (UXO) detection and removal.
He said WWII ordnance was routinely dumped offshore, often in the path of offshore wind farm cable routes.
N-Sea, which has a base in Aberdeen, can carry out survey work prior to trenching operations to make sure the coast is clear.
Mr James also said he expects to see the renewables sector increase its operating expenditure in the near term as more wind turbines are erected, all of which need to be maintained.
N-Sea currently has two dedicated UK North Sea vessels − Siem N-Sea and Siem Barracuda – and Mr James said the company could divert more of its fleet to the basin.
He highlighted an emerging trend, according to which operators are starting to plan work earlier in the year and loosen purse strings earlier.
The company secured £40million worth of new contracts in the fourth quarter of 2017 and the first three months of 2018.
These projects include UK east coast wind farm work, interconnector cable projects and German Baltic scopes for a variety of customers in the oil and gas, renewables and utilities sectors.
As well as looking to expand its UK fleet, N-Sea will be swelling its Aberdeen workforce, which currently stands at 40 onshore and 100 offshore during the main work season, April to October.
Those headcounts could reach 50 onshore and 200 offshore.
Mr James also said N-Sea had decided to designate Aberdeen as its centre for assets, which will let clients come to its offices to view its entire package of services and equipment, rather than splitting them between Aberdeen and the Netherlands.
The business specialises in UXO survey, remotely-operated vehicle and tooling solutions, diving, and subsea maintenance and construction.
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