Risk management and compliance specialists Pentagon Assurance are celebrating a contract to provide quality, health, safety and environment (QHSE) expertise in relation to subsea trenching services for Yunlin Offshore Wind Farm in Taiwan.
The project will see the South Shields firm providing QHSE advice and support safety, reduce risk and costs associated with the export of equipment from the Port of Blyth in Northumberland to Singapore and Taiwan.
Pentagon Assurance are highly experienced in the offshore energy sector and high hazard environments, this appointment will deliver on their responsibility for coordinating Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (HIRA) including management of the risks associated with subsea cable burial, vessel mobilisation, sea fastening, equipment loading with the added complexities introduced to the project by coronavirus COVID-19 for transit of project staff.
Director Barry Cooper said: “To be awarded this contract at any time would be great news and in the current economic context it’s fantastic to have some good news to share. In addition to the conventional risks associated with this type of project, the coronavirus COVID-19 has introduced a range of additional considerations which we need to factor in. Employee Health, Wellbeing and Safety, are core to both our and our clients values so international staff movement including additional quarantine requirements upon arrival in Singapore and the UK are amongst the measures we are integrating.”
The business, which is based within the Offshore Hub at South Tyneside Council managed One Trinity Green in South Shields, received a business rates relief grant from the Council in April. This has strengthened the business in the face of COVID-19 and seen it secure the Yunlin Offshore Wind Farm related contract.
“The grant has been instrumental in enabling us to keep our momentum going as a business during the pandemic to support our existing clients and it has been vital in helping us to secure this new, substantial contract.
“The business investment team at South Tyneside Council and One Trinity Green have been fantastic both prior to and during lockdown. Slick, quick and supportive to deal with business rates relief, constantly communicating government support guidance I can’t praise them enough. The grant enabled us to stabilise our business, collaboratively support our clients and keep all our balls in the air. It has been a big help”
In response to the announcement earlier in May that Equinor and SSE Renewables, the two companies behind the world’s biggest offshore wind farm Dogger Bank, are to build a new Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Base at the Port of Tyne Mr Cooper went on to say:
“It’s great news. We are right on the doorstep here in South Tyneside, as part of an incredible offshore energy supply chain in North East England and are absolutely delighted. It should help us as part of the local community in terms of access to opportunities in Dogger Bank but also the wider socio-economic benefits the project will bring. The award will also raise further awareness of the world class offshore energy capabilities that exist in and around South Tyneside, including the Offshore Hub at One Trinity Green where we are based.”
Councillor Iain Malcolm, Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: “This is fantastic news. We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected many businesses so it’s great to be able to celebrate a success story.
“I’m pleased that we were able to play a part by enabling Pentagon Assurance to access vital financial support which has enabled them to survive, and indeed thrive, during these very difficult times.”
