Associated British Ports Completes £35 Million Offshore Energy Hub in Lowestoft

Associated British Ports (ABP) has announced the finalization of its new £35 million offshore energy hub, situated at the United Kingdom’s easternmost port. This facility, named the Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF) and located in Suffolk, was specifically constructed to facilitate both operational and maintenance tasks, as well as the assembly of new offshore wind turbines within the North Sea. ABP has characterized the project’s successful completion, which benefited from funding via the Town’s Fund, as “a major milestone in Lowestoft’s energy transition journey”. The organization stated that the new facility has now been formally transferred by the contractors, McLaughlin and Harvey, signifying “a new era for Lowestoft and its role in the southern North Sea energy sector”. The LEEF facility in Lowestoft received its inaugural vessel in October. This hub boasts 345 meters (1,131 feet) of quayside, incorporating three deep-water berths with a 7.5-meter (24-foot) draft, offering direct access to fuel, water, and power. Furthermore, it is designed to host Service Operation Vessels, ensuring continuous operations regardless of tidal conditions, and includes up to eight acres of storage area along with six berths for crew transfer vessels. Julian Walker, chief commercial officer and regional director for Wales and Short Sea Ports, stated: “LEEF is a pivotal development for Lowestoft and will help us to meet the growing demands of the offshore energy industry. “Its completion marks a major milestone in the port’s evolution as a hub for supporting this vital industry and in ABP’s goal of enabling the energy transition.” He further noted that LEEF is set to expand upon the crucial role the Port of Lowestoft currently fulfills in offshore wind, serving as the base port for SSE’s Greater Gabbard and SPR’s EA ONE wind farms. Walker added: “Its adaptable infrastructure will also ensure ABP’s readiness to support future projects such as Sizewell C and we look forward to continuing to develop for the future in the region through supporting both existing and new projects with world-class facilities.” Adrian Pollock, operations director for civil engineering at McLaughlin & Harvey, commented: “We are proud to have delivered this comprehensive port infrastructure upgrade project. “Our civil engineering expertise in marine works and collaboration with ABP allowed us to design and deliver a new facility that will help ABP achieve their ambition of offering three berths and heavy lift capabilities for the growing offshore wind and energy sectors at Lowestoft.”