The LO leader on an offshore wind visit to FFS

Text and photo: Sveinung W. Jensen, Tellus Kommunikasjon

This was said by LO leader Peggy Hessen Følsvik, when she visited the FFS workshop in Lundevågen on Tuesday afternoon.

Led by Farsund mayor Arnt Abrahamsen, the powerful trade union leader and her entourage visited FFS and Einar Øgrey Farsund - both of whom are betting heavily on being able to take part in the future offshore wind adventure.

- WE HAVE BEEN involved in offshore wind since 2002. Now we are well equipped to take part in the activity that will hopefully come as a result of the establishment of Sørlige Nordsjø II, said John W. Nilsen, general manager of FFS.

He made no secret of his hope for a service base for offshore wind in Farsund.

- WE ARE ON large areas that can be used for storage, 15,000 square meters indoors and 35,000 square meters outdoors. And we have experience and expertise in support and service, said Nilsen.

The LO leader wondered whether the towboats could also be used in the operational phase when the offshore wind farms are fully developed.

NILSEN EXPLAINED then that these jobs are preferably carried out by our own service vessels which are out for two weeks at a time.

- Basically, I think that we can contribute with installation in the first phase, and be a service point on land when the operation of the offshore wind turbines is underway, said Nilsen, who also gave Følsvik and the other LO summits a thorough introduction to the business and the political challenges that the company faces along the way.