The Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF) – a new port redevelopment project at ABP's Port of Lowestoft is near completion and set to become fully operational in Q4 2024.
The £35m project has been specifically designed to accommodate Operations and Maintenance (O&M) activities, provide construction support for the energy industry in the Southern North Sea and support other seaborne trades, which will help secure the Port of Lowestoft’s position as a focal point for the region’s onshore and offshore energy industry.
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The new port features 345m of quayside equipped with three 7.5m draft deep-water berths with direct supplies of fuel, water, comms and power. It has an additional six crew transfer vessel (CTV) berths and six acres of flexible operational and storage land to support both current and future energy projects.
The LEEF facility is also capable of supporting other seaborne trades including aggregate and project cargoes for the civil engineering and nuclear industries, notably Sizewell C.
ABP divisional port manager Paul Ager said: “The LEEF project is a testament to ABP’s commitment to investing in the infrastructure required to support the offshore energy sector.”
CPS managing director David Rumsey added: “This is a significant step forward in aligning our support for the development of LEEF to strengthen Lowestoft’s infrastructure for renewable energy.
“It will enhance CPS’ capacity to serve its clients in the growing offshore wind sector, bringing economic benefits and opportunities to Lowestoft as the port evolves into a key hub for the energy sector in the Southern North Sea.”
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Nine offshore wind farm contracts were awarded by the government at its UK auction in September, including Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 – the world’s single largest wind farm, located 120km off the Norfolk coast – as well as Scottish Power Renewables’ East Anglia TWO and East Anglia THREE, off the Suffolk coast.
LEEF recently welcomed its first commercial vessel – a Norside Support Walk to Work (W2W), which arrived at the port on September 3. The vessel was chartered by ODE Asset Management (ODE AM), arriving from Aberdeen and berthing at the facility to embark 50 personnel for a two-week offshore campaign.
Marc Gater, logistics and resources manager at ODE Asset Management, said: “ODE AM is honoured that the Norside Supporter is the first commercial vessel to use LEEF.
“The scale, breadth and depth of the facility ensures ODE AM and our client partners, supported by the local supply chain, can continue to play a leading role in supporting the offshore industry – not just in East Anglia but across the UK as we transition to our net zero goals.”
The Norside Supporter’s arrival highlights LEEF’s potential to accommodate a wide range of vessels.
LEEF project delivery manager Javier Escandon said: “Welcoming the Norside Supporter is an important milestone for the LEEF project, and a reflection of the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in its delivery.
“Our focus remains on ensuring that both new and existing customers benefit from the extensive capabilities of this facility. We are particularly grateful to our contractors, McLaughlin & Harvey, for their continued efforts in delivering this project and for their support in accommodating this first vessel call safely and efficiently.”
In the future, LEEF is set to further enhance its offering with the introduction of shoreside power and fuel bunkering services.
These developments, along with the adaptable infrastructure, underscore ABP’s commitment to future-proofing the facility to meet both current and evolving industry demands.
For more information, visit abports.co.uk/locations/lowestoft
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