Ireland celebrated a double renewable energy boost with two firms announcing multi-million Euro strategic investments in the offshore wind farm sector.
Green Rebel Marine (GRM), a new business established to service the future needs of offshore wind farms, confirmed it is to create 80 new jobs. The company has invested €10m into the project, including the purchase of two specially equipped, high tech ships to service this nascent industry. Their first vessel – Bibby Athena, which will be renamed to Roman Rebel – has already arrived in Cork. A second vessel will arrive in late 2020.
The company has acquired Crosshaven Boatyard in Cork and the nine acre site will now serve as a base for its new operation to survey, equip and service a network of planned wind farms along the Irish coast.
A second Cork firm, shipping company Irish Mainport Holdings, has announced its entry into the offshore wind sector with its investment in a 50 metre survey and research Ship, the Mainport Geo.
The firm has also bought a share of Wicklow-based offshore services company, Alpha Marine. The company has provided tug and workboat charter, hydrographic survey, subsea repair and maintenance and most recently, environmental and geophysical survey to Irish offshore windfarms.