Associated British Ports (ABP) has awarded UK construction company McLaughlin and Harvey the design and build contract for its Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF) at the Port of Lowestoft in Suffolk.
ABP's expects LEEF will provide a facility that is suitable for operations and maintenance (O&M) activities and construction support for the offshore energy industry.
As part of the next phase of the project, ABP will invest around £1 million (US$1.2 million) in the detailed design of infrastructural upgrades of the site, including the addition of extra capacity to accommodate the next generation of larger offshore support vessels (OSVs).
ABP anticipates the design phase will last around six months. Construction will then follow over the next 12 months and potential for vessels can begin using the facility from as early as 2024.