The first contracts for providing service boats to the Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farm have been awarded to a contractor in Wells.The port is the nominated service base for Norwegian-owned company Scira Offshore Energy, which will operate the planned 88 turbines due to be generating electricity by the end of 2011.

The first contracts for providing service boats to the Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farm have been awarded to a contractor in Wells.

The port is the nominated service base for Norwegian-owned company Scira Offshore Energy, which will operate the planned 88 turbines due to be generating electricity by the end of 2011.

Preparations are already under way to prepare the seabed, between 17km and 22km off the north Norfolk coast, for the first of the giant turbine foundations due to arrive later this month.

Safety Boat Services, based on Warham Road, will begin work with Scira on April 15 following the award of two contracts running until the end of this year.

The first is to transport Scira personnel to the Svanen foundation installation vessel, which will use a piling technique to install the 90 foundations required for the wind farm's 88 turbines and two offshore substations.

The second contract is for the transportation of environmental contractors to the site to undertake mammal surveys during the piling operation, as well as for general inspection visits.

Safety Boat Services' commercial director Daniel Greeves said the company focused on providing services to wind farm developers after recognising the potential opportunities from projects planned in the Greater Wash.

'We have worked on an ad hoc basis with Scira for some years, and the learning from that groundwork helped enable us to win this important vessel contract,' he said.

'After many years of planning, we are looking forward to working on the Sheringham Shoal project as it begins offshore construction.'

The company also supplies work boats for marine construction projects, offshore surveys, salvage, towing, commercial diving, film work and safety support for sporting events.

Sheringham Shoal plant manager Einar Str�msvag said Safety Boat Services were ideally placed to win the contract because of its combination of marine experience and local knowledge.