Planning permission has been granted for the development of an Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) in Arklow Harbour for Arklow Bank Wind Park Phase 2. Approval was secured by SSE Renewables from Wicklow County Council in relation to the operations base proposed for South Dock.Once operational, the facility will serve as the onshore support base used to control, operate and maintain the offshore wind farm during its operational lifetime. It will accommodate around 80 long-term jobs during the operation of the offshore wind farm which will include site managers, supervisors, technicians, vessel crew, control room operators and engineers. The four-storey Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) will also feature a Sustainable Education Centre on its top floor. Within the South Dock, designated quayside and berth facilities will be constructed to accommodate four crew transfer vessels (CTVs) and a pontoon system will be installed to provide for safe boarding, loading and unloading of CTVs.
