Page 43 - Danish Offshore Industry 2019

on wind power. This doesn't mean that we slack off requirement for checking for corrosion of the blades of
our normal activities, but we add something new, and the wind turbines?
these years show that it is a sector characterized by
growth. Our concept of SOV (Service Operation Vessels) "We have entered into a joint venture looking at blade
poineered together with Siemens Gamesa has proved to inspection by drones. Such an emerging business is
be most suitable for offshore wind power. Especially in holding some interesiting opportunities. It is a question
areas where the windfarms are situated at a considerable of moving a little away from the vessel to take a more
distance from the coast. It provides us with a golden op- holistic view of our services now that thanks to our busi-
portunity for demonstrating the compentences already ness partner we can offer such new services. We would
honed to perfection by our shipping company. like to use our capacity for assisting our clients to reduce
running costs by combining our various services. And in
“We aim directly for the area where our profile fits in this case we were simply inspired by seeing that at times
best, and the US seems to be just such an area. Here a large number of vessels were present at the same time
we can make use of all the qualities that have turned carrying various jobs," explains Søren Karas, who is,
us into an European market leader - which I feel we however, not prepared to jump into all kinds of various
can be justified to call ourselves after years where we activities.
have been awarded something like half of the contracts
placed here. Now, as the US market is starting up in ear- "We do not want to turn into a company staffed by
nest we want to be a part of it. Here the wind power several thousand technicians, but just like our clients our
companies will need the concept we have developed. vision is focused on providing cheaper alternative ener-
Lots of other companies may offer traditional crew gy. We shall be a constructive partner offering more than
transfer, but we can do more than that, and that is just what the tender calls for, and for instance we clearly
why we can assist a quite new industry in the US to get see a need for inspection of the blades of the turbines as
started," states Søren Karas, who in cooperation with they are being exposed to a tough environment at sea.
his American partner is determined to find his way into It is rather easy to use drones onshore, but offshore the
this potentially attractive market. The need for a part- logistics is a bit more complicated, that is why we think
ner is caused i.a. by the Jones Act placing a number of this will be a success," concludes Søren Karas, who is
restrictions on foreign companies considering maritime considering new activities a necessety as well as a classic
operations., but in general Karas is seeing excellent virtue by ESVAGT.
opportunities for Danish companies with the right
competences.

"We are best in class on maritime services, and here we
can contribute by something they are not experienced
in "over there". It will be a large step for us, but it is a
proof, too, of our level of ambitions. That we pursue
this opportunity for growth. I would love to see a coop-
eration with other Danish companies in the American
market, for even if it is an enormous country with some
giant players there many Danish companies could get WE ARE BEST IN
a share of the market. Here, there is a need for us to CLASS ON MARITIME
both to be taking the lead and to be creative," explains
Søren Karas, who is not only looking at new geographic SERVICES, AND HERE
markets, but also at new types of services where the red
ESVAGT vessels may be used even better. WE CAN CONTRIBUTE
BY SOMETHING
DRONES FROM THE VESSELS
One of the ideas is that the presence in the waters THEY ARE NOT
around the wind farms could be utilized for performing
jobs which in themselves would be rather complex EXPERIENCED IN
operations. When for instance an ESVAGT vessel is "OVER THERE”
transporting personnel to a wind farm why not supple-
ment the trip by the golden opportunity of meeting the

41 / HEADING FOR NEW HORIZONS