Fugro has landed another major contract for offshore soil investigation, this time for the Blue Mackerel offshore wind farm off the coast of Gippsland, Victoria. The project, developed by Parkwind, a subsidiary of JERA Nex, is poised to become one of Australia’s pioneering offshore wind ventures, with an anticipated 1 GW capacity by 2032. Once operational, it could supply renewable energy to more than 500,000 Victorian homes, aligning with the country’s broader push to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
This contract marks Fugro’s second geotechnical site investigation for an Australian offshore wind project, following its work on the Star of the South. For Blue Mackerel, Fugro will deploy its specialist geotechnical vessel, Fugro Mariner, to conduct offshore soil sampling, with the collected data analyzed in its laboratories. The findings will help optimize the wind farm’s structural integrity, mitigate construction risks, and ensure compliance with evolving sustainability standards.
Parkwind’s Australian Country Head, Anil Chanana, underscored the project’s significance, stating, “We are excited to get to the next stage of site characterisation on our Blue Mackerel flagship project in Australia, and are pleased that Fugro will be collaborating with us to undertake this important geotechnical survey.” He emphasized that the wind farm is a strategic step toward Victoria’s target of achieving 9 GW of offshore wind capacity.
Shalu Shajahan, Regional Director for Marine Site Characterisation Asia Pacific at Fugro, echoed the enthusiasm, noting, “We are pleased to play a crucial role in supporting the Blue Mackerel offshore wind farm. We are confident that our advanced geotechnical expertise will deliver high-quality Geo-data that will be integral to the success of this project.”
Australia’s offshore wind industry is still in its early stages, but projects like Blue Mackerel highlight the sector’s growing momentum. With the federal government pushing for large-scale renewables and companies like Fugro leading the charge on critical site investigations, the nation is steadily laying the groundwork for a low-carbon future.
