The Community of European Shipyards’ Association (CESA) and the European Wind
Energy Association (EWEA) are calling on the European Commission and the
European Investment Bank (EIB) to support the building of new ships to serve the
expanding offshore wind energy market over the coming years.

CESA and EWEA urge the European Commission to develop programmes and
funding mechanisms, and for the European Investment Bank to take the necessary
measures to support the risk related to the necessary significant investments, to ensure
that a sufficient number of installation vessels are available to the offshore wind
industry. They also argue that the offshore wind power industry should be identified
as a key industry in the EU’s 2020 strategy for smart, green growth.

Investments in new ships totalling €2.4 billion are needed for the predicted growth of
offshore wind. By 2020, the installation of thousands of offshore wind turbines, as
well as the necessary substructures and cables, is foreseen.

“From 2020 we will see 40,000 MWs per year built offshore” said Eddie O’Connor,
founder and CEO of Mainstream Renewables and EWEA Secretary. “This will
require ten to twelve new heavy lift vessels, other vessels for transporting
foundations, towers, nacelles and blading systems. New ports will have to be built
across Europe.”

“European shipyards provide the necessary engineering power to develop innovative
solutions for dedicated offshore equipment” Reinhard Lüken, Secretary General of
CESA said. “Together European industry holds unique capabilities to drive fast
growth towards the green revolution of sustainable energy production.”