Launch of construction of the future operation and maintenance base of the Calvados offshore wind farm

Construction kick-off for the operation and maintenance base of the offshore wind farm from Calvados

The start of work on this maintenance base marks a new stage in the progress of the construction site for the second Normandy offshore wind farm. The construction of the building's foundations and its framework should be finalized in spring 2022 for completion of the "shell work" in summer 2022. The interior design work will then begin which will continue until the end of 2022. The teams of the Calvados offshore wind farm will be able to move into the premises at the start of 2023. In the meantime, the project teams will be installed in temporary premises on the port.

The maintenance base will consist of a control and telecommunications room,
changing rooms, offices and will house a warehouse area to store the equipment necessary for the maintenance of the park. Ultimately, and for optimal production, this will take place 7 days a week.

The construction of the park follows the phases of studies and consultations started since 2007, but also the connection and marine exploration work carried out by RTE currently underway. “A highlight of the construction of the Calvados offshore wind farm, the start of work on the maintenance base in Ouistreham is the result of long-standing collaborative work with local stakeholders. Around a hundred people will work there to carry out the operation and maintenance of the park. » Bernard Guitton, project director of the Calvados offshore wind farm (Courseulles-sur-Mer)

A vast investment program for Ports of Normandy

In 2019, Ports de Normandie launched a vast program of nearly €28 million in investments in the outer port of Ouistreham:

• In 2019-2020, installation of an entry device in the locks guaranteeing the economic future of the port of Caen-Ouistreham by allowing it to accommodate larger ships and thus meeting the evolution of global traffic standards as well as than easement pontoons (€14 million).
• In 2020, extension of 3 ha of the East mole to accommodate the future maintenance base of the Calvados offshore wind farm (€2.5 million). To compensate for these 3 ha reclaimed from the sea, Ports de Normandie has created, to the south of the marina, a 4.5 ha mudflat in order to provide an environment favorable to the development of biodiversity made up of local species. Also in 2020, Ports de Normandie installed a slipway dedicated to the sailing school on the tip side of the headquarters as well as a pontoon dedicated to the SNSM.

In November 2021, the last phase of work will begin (€9 million) aimed at improving the working conditions of the port community and the reception of boaters and to welcome the transport vessels of the operating and maintenance staff of the wind farm. .

Ports of Normandy will thus create:

• pontoons for fishing,
• 30 to 40 additional waiting places for passing boaters,
• a launching slipway open to all on the outer harbor side and parking for the public slipway,
• pontoons reserved for renewable marine energies.

These various works were preceded by studies and preparatory work for an amount of €2.4 million, bringing the overall investment to €27.9 million (Normandy Region – €7.5 million, Calvados Department – €4.1 million and Caen la Mer €0.45M).

“Through this €28 million investment, Ports de Normandie confirms that it is a major player of the port sector in all its forms: pleasure craft, fishing, commerce, cross-Channel, energy Marines Renewables…, a partner that keeps its commitments in the service of development economy of Normandy. » declared Hervé Morin, President of Ports de Normandie and the Normandy region.