Busy and getting busier

Port of Argentia continues to prepare for wind project

It used to be a parking spot for American military planes and vehicles during the Second World War, but now the north side of the Port of Argentia is being prepped to park something much bigger.

Roads are being widened at the site in preparation for the handling and storage of huge components for offshore wind turbines.

And there’ll be no electrical poles or wires to impede heavy equipment or the loads that will be handled at the site, explained Ray Greene, business manager for the port.

That’s why those lines are being buried during this preparatory work.

Beyond that, however, Greene said he is not at liberty to give details of the contract.

The only information to date is what’s been revealed so far.

In August, port CEO Scott Penney would only say the contract involved a German company that would be transporting wind farm components to North America.

Wind energy could also bring another player to Argentia.

Earlier this year the port signed an option-to-lease agreement with Pattern Energy.

That company is proposing to build wind turbines offshore and use that power to produce hydrogen fuels.

Greene said people from Pattern Energy have visited Argentia over the past several weeks, assessing locations to determine where best to place wind turbines.

Meanwhile, the port is getting steady work from the transportation and energy sectors.

Hundreds of workers are currently commuting to the site every day, finishing the construction of Cenovus Energy’s concrete gravity structure (CGS) for its West White Rose Project. The construction was 65 per cent complete when it stalled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Work on the CGS resumed this past summer, and will clew up sometime in 2023.

Argentia is also a regular port of call for cargo ships.

On Wednesday, Nov. 30, a ship arrived to offload 8,000 metric tonnes of road salt for highway maintenance during Newfoundland’s winter season.

Container loads of seafood also arrive and depart from the port regularly throughout the year, inbound from Iceland and outbound to the United States, Greene said.

While most of the 3,000 acres on the north side of the port is filled with existing tenants, including the space for the marshalling yard for U.S. offshore wind turbine construction, the entire port contains about 9,000 acres of land, Greene said.

“We still have ample capacity to entertain business interests and economic development,” he said.

Through a joint-venture deal with Nova Scotia-based Torrent Capital earlier this year, creating Argentia Capital Inc., the port is also “very active” in seeking out proposals for infrastructure projects, and commercial interests looking to lease land or expand their activity at the port.

“They’re already very active in engaging with some potential operators,” said Greene.