The hub

By Jon Albjerg Ravnholt
24 November 2020

The Baltic Sea is becoming important for offshore wind energy throughout the region, and Bornholm is strategically located right in the middle of it all. Offshore Center Bornholm has built a good reputation for the island, and this can easily be translated into other contexts, they believe.

When a number of companies banded together in the cluster Offshore Center Bornholm six years ago, it was to get ready to handle the tasks that would arise if projects like the one now underway involving the offshore wind turbines for Kriegers Flak succeeded in coming to Rønne Harbour. When Lone Reppien Thomsen came on board as project manager, one of her tasks was to ensure that there was a direct line to all participating companies and an on-call phone where someone could always get work started, no matter what time of day or night it was.

We have built our reputation on offering this service, she says now. If Siemens Gamesa or one of their subcontractors suddenly needs assistance while working on assembling the offshore wind turbines, the companies in Offshore Center Bornholm must be able to provide the necessary personnel at short notice.

 

That matters, because time is a massive factor in this. But it’s not always like that elsewhere. In many places they go home at 3 pm, and then that's it. That is simply a no-go in this context.

The kid has got a different sound
That attitude has paid off with the partners from the offshore
the wind industry, which is coming to the island now.

When Muehlhan, who are in charge of pre-assembly for the wind turbines, arrived on the island, we picked them up from the airport and went straight into a meeting. There, they could meet everyone involved in Offshore Center Bornholm and be given a list of what each of them can help with and how they can be contacted around the clock. That is work they were used to having to do themselves, and they were simply so pleased with it.

This is confirmed by Søren Andersen, head of Muehlhan A/S's offshore business unit:

Offshore Center Bornholm had understood what we needed, and they have put together a good team which we have made great use of. You can sense that people on Bornholm are used to working 24 hours a day and that they are very keen to help. The people of Bornholm are very service-minded compared to what we experience in other new ports.

 

 

 We have gained a lot from having prepared properly and shown that we can deliver what we promise, summarises Lone Reppien Thomsen.

It was not a given that Rønne Harbour and Offshore Center Bornholm could do that. When Business Magasinet interviewed Lone Reppien Thomsen two years ago, she told how they had been met with scepticism at the first offshore industry trade fairs they attended.

People came up to us with a wry smile and asked if we had smoked herring with us. That was what people thought of Bornholm, it was a tourist destination, but that is not the story we need to tell, she said back then. – Now the tune has changed, she notes with satisfaction when confronted with the quote. – In Poland, there is a strong political desire to turbocharge the green transition so that the Baltic Sea becomes an important place to source wind energy from. The North Sea is bigger, yes, but one should not play down the Baltic Sea.