On October 2024, Sarens, the global leader and reference in crane rental services, heavy lifting, and engineering transport, and Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s largest port operator, entered into a strategic collaboration that aims to explore solutions to deliver Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) in the Celtic Sea.

The collaboration aims to drive the rollout of FLOW technology in the Celtic Sea by combining ABP’s port infrastructure in Port Talbot, with Sarens’ extensive global experience in providing heavy lifting and transport solutions for large-scale offshore and floating wind projects. With over 65 years of global experience, Sarens – a family-run business – has been instrumental in delivering offshore wind projects across key international markets, including the USA, Europe, Taiwan and South Korea. Sarens' ability to provide complex engineering solutions has set them apart as a trusted partner for the most challenging offshore projects.

The collaboration focuses on exploring the necessary technical and logistical requirements for the deployment of FLOW at Port Talbot and marks a significant milestone for ABP’s Future Port Talbot programme, which is designed to transform the port into a major hub for FLOW and green energy development.

Andy Reay, Head of Offshore Wind at ABP, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Sarens, a company with a proven track record in delivering heavy lifting solutions for major offshore wind projects globally. For over 30 years, ABP has been at the forefront of delivering for offshore wind customers, and one of the biggest clean energy opportunities for the UK is the development of Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) in Wales. ABP is progressing plans to invest more than £500 million in new and repurposed infrastructure at Port Talbot to create a hub for FLOW, which has the potential to generate thousands of new, high-quality jobs and attract billions of pounds in inward investment. What ABP plans for Port Talbot represents another step towards our ambitions to be at the forefront of the UK’s net zero journey.”

Bev Bentley, Director of Strategic Global Projects at Sarens, added: “We are thrilled to collaborate with ABP on this innovative venture. Our global experience in offshore wind projects, combined with ABP’s infrastructure, will pave the way for a successful rollout of FLOW in the Celtic Sea. At Sarens, we are committed to driving the growth of renewable energy by providing cutting-edge lifting and transport solutions that are both sustainable and efficient. This collaboration reflects our ongoing dedication to playing a pivotal role in the global energy transition.”

This strategic collaboration underscores Sarens’ commitment to offshore wind projects globally, while positioning ABP and Port Talbot as key players in the growth of the FLOW industry.

ABP and Sarens look forward to working closely with the local supply chain to leverage local knowledge and skills in order to progress the collaboration.