OMM Calls EU, UK for Talk on Offshore Wind Firms

Leading specialist marine contractor, Offshore Marine Management (OMM) is calling on companies and associations from across the EU to engage with UK businesses and to have that tough conversation on the future of the industry beyond Brexit.

The call comes as OMM and many other European companies operating in the offshore wind sector prepare to attend the Global Wind Summit in Hamburg, which is one of the biggest industry events worldwide.

The event takes place between 25th and 28th September and will provide the opportunity for EU and UK business leaders to come together to discuss their future relationships.

OMM Director, Rob Grimmond, who has been vocal in his wish to see more engagement between the UK government and the renewables industry regarding movement of offshore personnel post-Brexit, is keen to meet with other leading EU companies at the conference to discuss how they can work together to ensure that the industry continues to thrive in a future Europe that may have borders but requires the free movement of people and equipment.

In particular, Mr. Grimmond would like to see companies within the industry join forces to engage with EU and UK Government representatives on the issue, given that any restrictions to free movement could cause a cut to the supply chain and increased costs for British and European companies alike.

There should also be conversations about how these companies can continue to work together in the case of a no-deal Brexit, in order to mitigate the potentially harmful impact on the industry as a whole.

OMM Director, Rob Grimmond said: “It is crucial that companies operating both within the EU and in Britain use the opportunity presented to us in Hamburg to have open and frank discussions about how we can continue to work together post-Brexit.

“The negative impact of a no-deal Brexit, or a Brexit that restricts the movement of workforces in British and European waters, could be extremely harmful for the industry as a whole if we do not have these conversations now. Time and efficiencies of people movements and the delays caused to offshore vessels at high prices will be borne by the industry and will be counterproductive to the investment and industry gains to date.”