Dajin, Haventus plan Ardersier hub to expand offshore wind logistics

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Dajin Heavy Industry and Haventus have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore developing Ardersier Port in Scotland as a logistics hub for fixed bottom and floating offshore wind projects.

The agreement will examine how Dajin’s foundation manufacturing, specialist transport and heavy load shipping capabilities can be combined with the port’s storage, marshalling and assembly infrastructure. No investment value, cargo commitments or development timetable were disclosed.

Ardersier would give Dajin another logistics base in the North Sea region following its partnership with Germany’s Port of Cuxhaven. The Chinese company is expanding beyond equipment manufacturing into foundation installation, heavy transport and overseas industrial hubs.

The partnership will also assess joint commercial opportunities serving offshore wind developments in Britain and continental Europe. Dajin’s deck carrier fleet could transport foundations and other large components from manufacturing sites to Ardersier for storage, assembly and onward deployment.

The planned hub would effectively operate as a staging yard between factory and wind farm, reducing the distance between imported components, installation vessels and offshore construction sites.

Ardersier Port occupies a 450 acre site on the Moray Firth, about 14 miles east of Inverness. Its sheltered harbour is connected to the North Sea through a 160 metre wide channel dredged to 12.4 metres chart datum.

The redevelopment includes more than 650 metres of initial quay infrastructure, while approximately 150 acres at the eastern end of the site are intended for assembly, storage and manufacturing. Plans allow for more than 1 kilometre of additional quay wall to meet future customer requirements.

Mark Gillespie, chief commercial officer at Haventus, said combining Dajin’s manufacturing and transportation operations with Ardersier’s infrastructure would strengthen the services available to offshore wind customers.

Dajin business development director Artur Pielech said the port’s scale and location would help move the company’s logistics capabilities closer to European projects as its specialist vessel fleet expands.