Global construction firm opens office to Port of Sunderland

A global offshore subsea construction company has opened a new regional project office at Port of Sunderland.

Boskalis, specialising in offshore contracting, marine services and dredging, will use the base to expand the presence of its subsea services business vessel operations in the UK, as it looks to cater for growing demand for its offshore, IRM, construction and decommissioning services.

The port has undertaken a £200k refurbishment of Cable House, a former store and workshop built in the early part of the 20th century, transforming it into a modern office space with open-plan office accommodation with meeting and conference facilities and a practical engineering workspace and welfare facilities.

The UK subsea specialist identified the port due to its ‘strategic location’ on the North Sea coast and the city’s workforce. The firm believes this will be key to attracting talent and helping it continue growing its presence across the UK.

Many Boskalis Subsea Services ships are now also regular visitors to the City’s port, including Boka Topaz, Boka Atlantis, Boka Polaris and Polar Onyx.

The company employs over 10,000 people across six continents and as well as providing its services to 90 ports in 36 countries, also operates a fleet of over 700 vessels operating at any one time across the globe.

Richard Cawthorne, senior project manager at Boskalis Subsea Services, said: “We have significant programmes of work to execute in the Southern North Sea for major operators, this work covers IRM, decommissioning and construction.

“Whilst our company is headquartered in Aberdeen we saw that setting up a local project office in Sunderland, mobilising and demobilising our ships from here also and accessing the local supply chain was a clear benefit to our customers.

“We are delighted to be working with the local authorities to make all this happen.”