Set to support seabed survey facilities for global geo-data specialists in the international offshore energy sector, Mainport Shipping Limited (‘Mainport Shipping’) has this week welcomed its new offshore support ship, Mainport Edge, to Cork.
Mainport’s investment has been made against the backdrop of strong demand for seabed survey vessels in the high growth European wind energy market.
The new ship was constructed by Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding in China and is 59.6 metres in length overall. It is the second wind energy offshore support ship in the company’s shipping fleet.
After purchase in China, Mainport sailed the ship to Turkey where extensive modifications were carried out to cater for the offshore wind market. The current market value of the ship is €25 million.
The ship has already worked in the Mediterranean for six months following her modifications in Turkey. It will now commence a new charter in the Malin sea area to the West of Scotland on the MachairWind 2 GW offshore wind project, for Sulmara / Scottish Power Renewables.
The acquisition of MV Mainport Edge follows a multi-million euros equity investment into Mainport Shipping by MML Growth Capital Partners Ireland (“MML”) 15 months ago for expansion of its business. The company plans to acquire additional survey support ships to meet the exponential growth in demand from the offshore wind energy sector, which is being driven by energy security and transition to cleaner sources of electricity.
Mainport chose to use the Port of Cork, and Mainport’s local connections, to replenish the vessel and conduct all their maintenance requirements prior to going on charter with Sulmara in Larne.
The majority shareholder in Mainport Shipping is Irish Mainport Holdings Ltd., which was was founded in 1957 to provide ship chartering for imports into Ireland. IMH is headquartered in Cork and is owned by the Ronayne family.
