Offshore wind developer Ørsted will be officially opening the recently expanded East Coast Hub at the port in Grimsby.

The site which is now the world’s largest offshore wind operations and maintenance centre recently benefitted from a £10 million investment in both its quayside and office facilities.

Guest of honour, Melanie Onn MP for Great Grimsby will unveil a plaque at the site, as part of the official opening ceremony.

With 83% of its 350 employees living within an hour’s distance of the site, the offshore wind developer has proven its commitment to hiring local talent from the Humber region.

There are four offshore wind farms directly managed from the East Coast Hub, namely Westermost Rough, Lincs, Race Bank and Gunfleet Sands, located in the South East. Two additional sites which are currently under construction, Hornsea One and Hornsea Two will be joining the East Coast portfolio as the UK’s largest offshore wind farms in 2020 and 2022.

Once complete, the six sites will contribute to the generation of clean electricity for 3.2 million homes across the UK.

During construction, the East Coast Hub was awarded the title of best renewable energy project or installation at the Humber Renewable Awards after local construction firm Hobson & Porter put forward a submission.

Leading the way for offshore wind farm development, Grimsby’s new site has welcomed global delegations to discuss best practice. Most notably, the site has hosted Australian, Korean, Taiwanese, Japanese and American delegations who have shown a particular interest in the innovative Marine and Helicopter Co-ordination Centre (MHCC).

The MHCC is the only one of its kind across all Ørsted locations. Its staff work 24/7 on the liaison of personnel, vessels and helicopters visiting an Ørsted array currently under construction.

Two of the most impressive vessels to be involved in this construction berth at the port of Grimsby alongside ECH’s quay. The Service Operations Vessel (SOV) Edda sisters transport technicians to sites such as Hornsea One and act as accommodation sites for two weeks. Using the latest in green technology, the vessels themselves are lower in emissions, supporting the company vision of creating a world that runs entirely on green energy.

On the official opening, Ørsted Head of the East Coast Region, Darren Ramshaw said: “We are extremely pleased to be able to show off the fantastic facility we have here in Grimsby.

The town has become a leading light in the development of offshore wind for the country and has really embraced the skills and opportunities that have become available within this exciting sector. With the port’s regeneration also on the horizon, we are excited to be a part of the development and growth in this area.”