VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has selected Norfolk, Virginia as the hub to support the safety needs of North America’s fast-emerging offshore wind sector. The leading safety solutions provider for the global maritime and offshore industries will coordinate delivery, service and lease agreements for sector-specific PPE and other gear from offices in Norfolk.

Headed by John Bratten, Sales Manager, Yachting and Wind Sales, VIKING North America, the concerted push to reinforce safety services comes at a key moment for US wind power. Offshore wind looks set to become a major component of US energy.

Clean Energy targets set by President Biden aim at harvesting 30 GW of Offshore Wind power by 2030. What is more, federal leases with potential to support 40 GW of offshore wind have already been awarded, according to Intelatus Global Partners (see here), while 10 developments with potential to deliver more than 15 GW are under federal permit review. The Vineyard Wind array south of Martha’s Vineyard, with a total capacity of 800 mW, will start delivering electricity next year.

“Offshore wind is a young industry in the United States but momentum is building: deals are signed, surveys progressing and turbine construction underway,” said Bratten, who many will recall from a previous role with Boat Owners Association of the United States. “Technical challenges and policy changes lie ahead, but safety for those working in the industry comes first.”

VIKING Offshore Wind1

VIKING has progressively enhanced its range of Marine Evacuation System (MES), work suits, immersion suits, lifejackets, and other life-saving equipment for offshore wind technicians, and today supports safety needs across some of the largest turbine developments in the world. It has also developed…