Forums Forums Local News Marine Training Centre- Wirral Waters

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/plans-revealed-multi-million-pound-marine-8353084 Ambitious plans to create a new multi million pound Offshore Safety Training Centre at Wirral Waters have been revealed.

Wirral council has submitted the planning application and is seeking funding for the centre in Birkenhead.

The authority says the aim is to support local companies involved in the renewable energy sector and initiatives taking place in the Liverpool Bay and Irish Sea - a major growth sector for the Liverpool City Region.

The plans by Wirral council aim to see the centre built at West Float - part of the Wirral Waters site and close to the proposed International Trade Centre, which has planning permission.

The site has been cleared ahead of Wirral Waters developments, and the Offshore Safety Training Centre (OSTC) would have access to Gilbrook Basin, which currently contains the former minesweeper HMS Bronington while its future is decided.

The council says that currently local businesses in the maritime sector say they need to send people to Fleetwood - Blackpool and Fylde College which is usually booked up six months in advance, up to Aberdeen and sometimes as far away as Germany for offshore survival training.

A spokesman said: “So we are looking at the potential to develop one here in response to serve businesses in Wirral, across the city region and north east wales.

“Wirral’s offshore engineering capabilities led us to become the only CORE (Centre for Offshore Renewable Engineering) on the west coast of the country and through our regional growth fund programme we have supported companies in accessing opportunities in the offshore wind sector etc.

“An offshore survival training facility will further support our offer to businesses already here and businesses looking to invest here.”

The council says a survey was carried out through Invest Wirral and Mersey Maritime to gauge the demand for such a facility and the spokesman added: “We are working with Peel Holdings to site such a facility in Wirral Waters (Enterprise Zone) and are bidding through the Coastal Communities Fund to help pay for it.”

According to the planning application: “Potential users of the facility include the developers if te two large offshore windfarms and companies undertaking exploration for oil and gas reserves. Other potential users are port and ferry operators.”

Training would be both classroom based and include “practical simulations” ranging from ditching helicopters to rig fires.

As well as a classroom for 16 trainees, the proposed centre would also include a 10m by 20m training tank, offices and outside a replica helipad and shipping containers.

The documents accompanying the planning application say the building would be “robust and functional” and clearly visible from Beaufort Road.

That sounds like a sensible use of space! Something practical for which there is actually a need, in an area well placed to link up with the offshore activities.

I often wonder, when I look out to sea, if these wind turbines that surround us are cost effective yet. Just how much energy do they supply us with, and is it us in Merseyside who are benefiting from them? How much of our electricity are they providing and do they help keep our bills low? Doesn't seem to be any feedback to the general public about them.
Be interesting if any of you folks know the answers to my questions.

There's a lot of info available on the websites for Burbo Bank offshore wind farm and Gwynt Y Mor offshore wind farm, if you fancy trawling through it to separate the facts from the blether! As for us benefiting from them on Merseyside, I don't think it can work like that; the juice just goes into the national grid. All they say on the websites is the number of homes that can be powered.

Thanks Greenwood. Will take a look.

If you want to see how much wind power is contributing to the national grid have a look here UK National Grid status.
I have seen it up to 10-11% but can be down to almost 0% when the there is little, or even too much wind.

That's fascinating - once I overcame my 'argh, a page full of graphs' reaction, I found it very interesting. Good one!