Emma Cooke, commercial manager at global shipping agency Cory Brothers, says the company isn’t standing still despite the challenges facing UK offshore wind.
As a business that proudly supports renewable energy projects off the coast of England and Scotland, Cory Brothers has naturally had a close eye on recent news – and how the industry is reacting.
Irrespective of what the latest developments mean for offshore wind construction, we remain firmly committed to the sector and helping it negotiate any challenges it faces.
Throughout our 180-year history, we’ve become accustomed to adapting to changing market conditions and unforeseen global events, of which there have been a few this decade!
Yet, while we are used to adapting, what we never do is stop.
For example, Vattenfall may have pressed pause on Norfolk Boreas, but it hasn’t stopped us supporting the project through discussions, planning and determining how our services may need to adapt.
As a result, we will be fully prepared once construction recommences.
It all comes down to communication
Looking back at the oil and gas crisis of the late-2000s, there were lots of people having to make very tough business decisions – but they remembered the people who kept in touch. When you then start to see that curve changing, you’re ahead of it because you’ve maintained those relationships.
Staying close to clients is one thing, but keeping your own suppliers on side is just as critical, especially in a fast-moving industry like ours.
Port owners are among the key suppliers for Cory Brothers and the wider VertomCory group.
The infrastructure and staffing levels at ports, both in the UK and worldwide, has a tangible impact on the services we can offer clients, so the importance of our relationships with Peel Ports, ADP and Hutchison – to name but a few – can’t be overstated.
As part of this, we must recognise the size limitations of many UK ports, and how it may affect their ability to accommodate future offshore projects.
While largely out of our control, we are in the solutions business, and the awareness of those challenges is what allows us to support the ports. If they ever wish to discuss a project, or simply use us as a sounding board, we will always welcome those discussions.
Ultimately, we need the ports on side, and the ports need the customers on side. By working together to find solutions, everyone feels the benefit.
For more information, please visit corybrothers.com/shipping-agency/energy-logistics
Alternatively, please feel free to get in touch at emma.cooke@corybrothers.com, hello@corybrothers.com or 01394 674822.
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