Danish Firm To Breathe Life Into Harbour

There are around 150 construction jobs in the wind in Belfast's Harbour Estate, which is hoping to sign a deal with a Danish wind turbine company.

This should lead to the creation of over 450 new jobs in total and is expected to result in a £40m investment for the city, with the firm using the harbour as a base for preparing turbines to install offshore.

It is hoped the project will create up to 300 full-time jobs, with an additional 150 in construction, and transform the site into one of the UK's leading renewable energy hubs.

The Chairman of Belfast Harbour, Len O'Hagan, a former supermarket executive, said: "This initiative, which the harbour has been pursuing for well over a year, has the potential to kick-start Belfast's aspirations to become a leading player in the new green economy," noting that around 11,000 offshore wind turbines are scheduled to be set up over the next 20 years, many of them close to Belfast.

Part of the proposal will involve the building of a 450 metre quay and 50 acre logistics space on the Co Down side of the harbour which is where the Danish Dong Energy firm will ready up the turbines for offshore installation.

Vice President Peter Gedbjerg said: "The possibility of a tailor-made facility to make the installation of offshore wind turbines even more efficient fits perfectly with DONG Energy's goal of bringing down the construction cost of renewable energy."

Meanwhile, in a separate issue Len O'Hagan also warned that Belfast Harbour Commissioners would oppose the NI Executive's proposal to take extra revenue from the Harbour Estate.

It is understood the Stormont Executive is looking at a possible levy, which would raise £125m over the next four years, but Len O'Hagan, who is also the Chairman of the commissioners said any such decision would require a change in legislation across the UK.

(BMcC/GK)