Danish shipping and logistics group Maersk has partnered up with compatriot wind turbine maker Vestas to set up a nacelle factory and logistical base at the Mokpo New Port hinterland complex in South Korea.
A memorandum of understanding, signed in the presence of the Governor of Jeonnam Province Kim Yung-rok and the Mayor of Mokpo City Park Hong-ryul, outlines the duo’s aim to establish a competitive and sustainable industrial supply chain for offshore wind in South Korea and forge local partnerships, while Jeonnam Province and Mokpo City will provide administrative and financial support.
The Korean government is actively promoting offshore wind power projects, with plans to expand the capacity deployment to 26.7 GW by 2036. Vestas, which has already secured several orders in the country, said the investment plan with Maersk would be “dependent on the pace of a growing market and awarded volume”.
“South Korea has a promising offshore wind market with the potential to become a hub for accelerating offshore wind energy. The agreement follows the strong technology offering we have with the V236-15 MW wind turbine and the recent commercial traction we have seen,” said Tommy Rahbek Nielsen, chief of operations at Vestas.
Maersk chief executive Vincent Clerc said the deal with Vestas was a good step for project logistics in Asia Pacific and a key milestone in the company’s integrator strategy of delivering end-to-end logistics solutions.
“We continue to strengthen our partnership with Vestas, which is based on a shared vision and our joint commitment to a green, sustainable future for our planet,” added Clerc.
The full details of the investment approach are currently under consideration, and the two companies said they would reveal further information when the plan is finalised.
