Operations & Maintenance
The operations and maintenance of Galloper Offshore Wind Farm is run from a state-of-the-art, purpose-built Operations & Maintenance facility at Harwich International Port with crew transfer vessels travelling to the wind farm site daily (weather permitting).
The O&M team includes wind turbine technicians, engineers, marine coordinators as well as management and administrative staff.
The construction of the permanent O&M building and infrastructure was consented in September 2018, with work beginning onsite in November 2018. Construction work was completed on budget and schedule in late 2019. The team fully relocated from temporary facilities into their new home, in early 2020.
Harwich was chosen as the ideal location for the base because of its distance from the wind farm; existing port infrastructure; numerous local suppliers and contractors, and excellent transport links both national and international.
The new base includes a control room for managing the wind farm 24/7, a purpose-built pontoon for the crew transfer vessels, plus warehousing and office facilities, and a gym.
Health & Safety continues to be at the heart of everything the team does. You can read our policy below.
O&M Base Construction
Having received consent for the O&M base from the Marine Management Organisation and Tendring District Council, construction got underway in 2018. Work on the new facility and pontoon took around 12 months in total with activity progressing to schedule and completion due by early 2020.
Three companies were awarded contracts for the Galloper Operations & Maintenance base in deals worth more than £10 million:
- Ipswich based R G Carter for the construction of the O&M building;
- Ipswich based Jackson Civil Engineering Group, for the construction of the access road; and
- Farrans Construction, for the fabrication and installation of the pontoon.
The construction of the base and pontoon created around 120 local jobs.
The long-term Operations & Maintenance of the wind farm is bringing significant employment and investment benefits to Tendring plus the wider Essex area and along the East coast as well as elsewhere in the UK.
Local Support
The Operations & Maintenance team work with local businesses and organisations regularly to support local initiatives.
Galloper again took part in the Tendring Jobs and Careers Fair in October 2018 as one of the principal sponsors.
To support local businesses and job seekers understand more about the long-term opportunities associated with the wind farms operations and maintenance, the Galloper team hosted a Business Breakfast in Harwich in May 2017 and took part in the Tendring Jobs and Careers Fair in October 2017.
Information for Mariners
Safe sailing during operations
Galloper Offshore Wind Farm has been operational since 2018 and yachts and other recreational vessels are free to sail through the wind farm site.
It is suggested that boat owners check with the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) or relevant marine body for recommendations related to safe passage through offshore wind farms. Galloper’s position is that maintaining approximately 100 metres between vessels and the wind farm structures – turbines and offshore substation platform – would demonstrate good seamanship. As a precaution, it is recommended that sailing vessels should have their engines turned on and in neutral whilst transiting through the wind farm to enable rapid control if it is required.
Site boundary
Fisheries and marine contacts
To get in touch with Galloper regarding fisheries or marine related issues go to the Contact page.
Notices to mariners
Notices to mariners relevant to the operations and maintenance of Galloper Offshore Wind Farm are posted here with the most recent at the top:
Keep up to date
The Galloper team will periodically send out e-bulletins about our operations activities. If would like to be added to the mailing list please email us with your request to receive updates.