NHV Group has entered into a new long-term contract with oil and gas company Spirit Energy to provide passenger transfer services in support of its east Irish Sea operations. The operations are due to start in December 2020 and will depart from Blackpool in the UK.

NHV's team will fly an AW169 helicopter to support the service. NHV has already gained experience with the helicopter type in Norway, where it has operated the AW169 in support of the Norwegian Coastal Agency's operations since 2017.

Mike Gislam, UK accountable manager, comments: “We are honoured to be the chosen aviation partner for Spirit's east Irish Sea operations. NHV continues to invest in fleet and training to take on unique projects just like this one. Our team is eager to deliver flexible, customer-friendly and above all safe operations. We look forward to further developing the cooperation with our client, airport and local authorities.”

Meanwhile, NHV has also started its helicopter services in support of Ørsted's Borssele 1 and 2 offshore wind farms. The flights depart from NHV's recently installed base in Arnemuiden in Midden-Zeeland, the Netherlands, to the Borssele wind farm, located 23 kilometres from Westkapelle off the Dutch coast.

For these operations, NHV has taken delivery of a brand new Airbus Helicopters H145.

Once installed, the approximately 100 wind offshore wind turbines will supply renewable energy equivalent to the annual power consumption of one million Dutch households. Borssele 1 and 2 together comprise 128.3 sq km with a capacity of 752 mw.

This contract also fits NHV's long-term strategy to broaden its range of services to the energy market and grow the renewables service alongside the oil and gas service. The NHV Group is also supporting offshore wind farms out of Aberdeen and Ostend.