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FEATURE SPONSOR


OFFSHORE SUPPORT SERVICES


AGE OLD COMPANY OFFERS FULL SERVICE SUPPORT TO HUMBER’S NEWEST INDUSTRY


As the Humber’s renewable energy sector gathers pace, an age old Hull company is gearing up to take full advantage of the estuary’s revival.


HOLISTIC APPROACH


While some firms have invested in wind farm support vessels, Rix Shipping – which can trace its roots on the Humber back 140 years – is taking a more holistic approach to wind farm support services.


In October last year the company launched Rix Sea Shuttle, the latest company in the J.R. Rix & Sons group, on the back of a £7.5m order for five crew support vessels to work along the east coast and in Europe.


ALEXANDRA DOCK


But the firm’s services in Hull extend far beyond that, taking in fuel provision to port management and storage and warehousing facilities on land close to Alexandra Dock – an area earmarked for redevelopment for businesses in the renewables industry.


COMPLETE RANGE


“Our intention has always been to develop a complete range of on and offshore support services,” said James Doyle, Managing Director of Rix Shipping.


“We have a long heritage of operating ships and barges on the Humber, it has been a core service of the Rix Group for more than a century, so it was a natural step for us to enter the wind farm vessel sector too.


“J.R. & Sons is a diverse business so we felt there were other things we could bring to the industry. As the offshore industry attracts more companies to the Humber we have created warehousing facilities for those companies. If they need temperature controlled storage, we can supply it. If they need workshops to service or develop technical equipment, again, we can supply it.


“It is about offering support that starts onshore at the port and goes right the way through to when the engineers step off the boat to work on the turbines.”


WIND FARM SUPPORT VESSELS DELIVERY Currently Rix Sea Shuttle has taken delivery of three wind farm support vessels – the Rix Cheetah, Rix Panther and the Rix Tiger – with a further two to be delivered next year.


Each aluminium vessel is crewed and operated by Rix, can carry up to 12 technicians and is capable of reaching speeds of up to 30 knots. But it is not just in shipping that Rix is looking to conquer the renewables industry. The other major aspect of the business is fuel – ranging from residential heating oil to marine gas oil to commercial diesel and lubricants – and that makes up an important part of the company’s service provision too.


INVESTMENT


Recently Maritime Bunkering Ltd – another Rix firm – invested £100,000 in installing a second double-skinned 100 m3 fuel tank on the Port of Grimsby East, in a joint venture with Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises.


www.windenergynetwork.co.uk 85


The tank was installed to accommodate a growth in boats serving the offshore industry from the port, which is used by Siemens and Centrica. Maritime Bunkering’s barges are also being called upon to refuel more vessels associated with the wind farm industry in the Humber.


“The offshore industry is presenting us with a variety of opportunities across our business,” Mr Doyle said. “Whether that is shipping, storage or fuel our intention is to unlock the potential within the sector by bringing to it all the skills and services that have made this company a success for the past 140 years.”


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