Ostend–September 18th, 2018
The NHV Group today announced a new contract with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy to provide helicopter services in support of the Rentel Offshore Wind farm. The operations are expected to start in October 2018. Flights will depart from NHV’s base in Ostend to the Rentel offshore wind farm located approximately 40 km from Ostend, in front of the Belgian coast.
NHV will support this project utilizing the H145T2 aircraft, the latest Airbus Helicopter 4-tonne-class twin-engine rotorcraft. With its high hoisting and hover performance and small footprint, the H145T2 can operate in performance class 1 conditions, while its compact airframe can manoeuvre in the confined environments of offshore wind farms.
The Rentel project will be the fifth offshore wind project in the Belgian North Sea. This new offshore power station will consist of 42 Siemens Gamesa D7 offshore wind turbines and will have a maximum installed capacity of 309 MW. With their tip height of 183 meters, the new wind turbines will be the largest thus far installed in the Belgian North Sea and will deliver renewable energy to approximately 300,000 households.
“NHV has a proven history with Siemens Gamesa and in Belgium. I’m confident that our joint commitment to deliver safe, reliable, and cost-efficient helicopter operations will allow us to serve our customer well,” says An Stroobandt, Managing Director Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy BVBA/SPRL in Belgium.
NHV’s base manager Bram De Backer commented: “We are delighted that Siemens Gamesa have selected NHV as their partner for this prestigious project. This Rentel contract will further strengthen the strong working relationship there already was between our both parties. Thanks to our continued investments in fleet, equipment and training, NHV has the skills and experience to provide Siemens Gamesa with safe and reliable helicopter operations. This contract also fits in our company’s long-term strategy to broaden our range of services to the energy market and grow our renewables service alongside our oil and gas service.”
Earlier this summer, the NHV Group also started supporting Siemens Gamesa in the construction of the Beatrice Offshore Wind farm. These H175 operations are departing out of Aberdeen (UK).
The NHV group, based in Ostend Belgium, is specialized in B-to-B helicopter services and has a strong geographic presence in Europe and Western Africa. The group conducts operations out of several bases on 2 continents with a team of over 550 employees. NHV’s main focus is on the oil and gas industry. The group has a leading position in Europe as the only helicopter operator that conducts operations in every oil producing country in the region. The scope of work also includes: Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS), Maritime Services, which include Search and Rescue (SAR), offshore Wind Farms and Harbor Pilot Services. Vertech Offshore and Airlift are two specialized companies within the NHV group who are leaders in their niche of flare tip replacement and power grid construction and maintenance. Aside from the helicopter operations, NHV is an approved training organization (ATO) and an official service center for our partner Airbus Helicopters. The group has a multipurpose high value fleet of +60 helicopters. NHV’s majority shareholder is Ardian, the independent private investment company with assets of US$50bn managed or advised in Europe, North America and Asia.
