80 jobs to be created in maintaining offshore wind farms in Cork

Green Rebel Marine, a new business set up to maintain offshore wind farms, has announced plans to create 80 new jobs.

This morning’s (Monday, September 28) announcement of 80 jobs and a €10 million investment will come as a significant boost for Co. Cork.

The company, which was founded by Cork businessman Pearse Flynn, has also acquired Crosshaven Boatyard in Co. Cork – a 9ac site that will serve as a base for the new operation to survey, equip and service a network of planned wind farms along the Irish coast. Crosshaven Boatyard will continue its normal operations as a Boatyard.

Flynn has invested €10 million of his own money into the project, including the purchase of two specially equipped, high-technology ships to service this industry.

The new jobs will be created in Crosshaven within the next 18 months. The first vessel – the Bibby Athena, which will be renamed to Roman Rebel – has already arrived into Cork. The second is scheduled to arrive later this year.

‘On the verge of a green revolution’

Plans for offshore wind farms are at an advanced stage; with a number of potential fixed and floating operators examining sites along the coast from Dundalk in Co. Louth to the Cork coast and beyond.

According to the company, the construction of these wind farms “will not only increase Ireland’s ability to produce renewable energy, it will also create an entire new sector dedicated to servicing thenew project to operation”.

Flynn, who hails from a fishing family in Ballycotton in Co. Cork, hopes for his company to support hundreds of jobs around the coast.

Ireland is on the verge of a green revolution that will deliver 5GW of energy from wind not generated on land, but far out to sea.

“Green Rebel Marine will work alongside the operators of this new array of wind turbines to ensure they remain operational by using skilled mariners who are trained here.

“We have already hired some of the industry’s leading scientists who will help conduct surveying in the months ahead and our team will remain involved in these projects until they are operational and beyond.

“This is a new sector, and one that has incredible potential to deliver for our maritime community.”

Green Rebel Marine also has plans to develop a centre of excellence in Crosshaven to train and develop the staff required to meet the future needs of the floating wind farm industry.

Flynn added: “The cost of constructing these offshore, floating wind farms is coming down and there is a rush amongst operators to see who will be first to market.

“Unlike the challenges posed by such projects on land, these sea-based sites will be largely away from public view.

“Ireland has the potential to become a net exporter of electricity within a decade, as opposed to relying on imported fossil fuels.”