The importance of ports in supporting the energy industry is often underestimated by those not directly involved in the sector. However, it is undeniable how harbours can serve as unvaluable construction and logistical bases for the development and maintenance of offshore energy projects. Ostend Port has already been playing this role for quite some time, also through the REBO heavy weight terminal, for the 399 wind turbines installed in the Belgian part of the North Sea.
Now, with the setting up of the Princess Elisabeth Energy Island, located 45 km off the coast of Ostend and expected to collect electricity from offshore wind farms and transmit it to land, the port is extending its activities in assisting the industry with vessels and equipment regularly departing from and returning to the port.
Within the DIOL project in particular a fencing was recently completed around the offshore terminal, compliant with the ISPS (International Ship and Port Facility Security Code) global regulatory framework and complemented by cameras and a SENID+ drone detection system developed by the Belgian company Senhive. The latter solution was put in place to detect both cooperative and non-cooperative commercial drones and aircrafts in the airspace within a radius of 25 km to prevent spy vehicles from flying over critical infrastructure serving the offshore energy parks and energy island.
Image © : Ostend Port