German Offshore Wind Contracts Den Helder Airport
Den Helder Airport (DHA) will facilitate helicopter flights for the maintenance of the Deutsche Bucht offshore windfarm for MHI Vestas in the coming years. At the same time, offshore windfarm constructor Van Oord has finalised a call-off contract for the same German windfarm.
The transport of personnel and small cargo for the contract partners in Germany will be handled by DHSS from Den Helder Airport. Due to its new long-term contract with MHI Vestas and its strategically important location, DHA is distinguishing itself as an important helicopter airport for not only the oil & gas industry, but also for the European offshore wind sector.
The decisive reason that DHA was chosen for the new German offshore windfarm maintenance contract is the professional and specialised airport with all the required customs services, military police and handling companies. The close proximity to Schiphol International Airport also played a crucial role. “Specialist personnel in the sector are scarce and therefore expensive”, says Conny van den Hoff, Director of Den Helder Airport. “It is important to be able to get specialists on location as quickly as possible, and to have short and fast logistics lines. DHA’s location enables this. Specialised staff come from all over the world. Via Schiphol and our professional helicopter airport, they are the fastest on location at Deutsche Bucht.”
Two years ago, various companies based at Den Helder Airport, including DHSS, decided to change their strategy to market Den Helder Airport as a North Sea offshore wind hub. “Den Helder Airport has gone through an intensive period in which a number of processes have been put in motion to promote activities. We see this as confirmation that this chosen strategy is bearing fruit. It also reinforces the vision of six cooperating North Sea airports, united in the North Sea Heliports Alliance”, says Ms van den Hoff.