Cable pulls, Polish vessel coding and a wind sector that’s just getting going.
Poland’s offshore wind industry is still in its early days, and it’s moving fast. For CRC with a fleet of 48+ vessels working across the UK and Europe, that makes it a market worth being in early. Here’s what it’s looked like for us so far.
Why Poland?
The Baltic is set to become a major offshore wind region. Poland has big plans for it, with a pipeline of projects heading from planning into construction. Developers, contractors and installers are all gearing up, and they need reliable, well-run vessel support to get the work done.
That’s where we come in. We’ve spent years supporting offshore wind and marine projects around the UK and Europe. Poland is the next step, and the same standards apply: safe crews, well-prepared vessels and no surprises.
Cable pulls
Cable pulls are one of the most demanding jobs in offshore wind construction. Get the timing, positioning or communication wrong and the cost adds up quickly. Nobody wants to be the reason a weather window gets wasted.
Over two months, CRC Defender, CRC Buccaneer, CRC Vigilant and CRC Ventura, crewed by 12 CRC staff, supported cable pull operations in Poland, working alongside the main contractors and installation teams. In practice that means:
- Holding position in tight spots. Our skippers are experienced at working close to larger vessels and structures, in whatever the Baltic throws at us.
- Clear communication. Cable pulls depend on everyone knowing what’s happening and when. Our crews work to the project’s plans and keep the lines of communication open.
- Being ready when the window opens. Vessels fully prepared, crews briefed and kit checked before we leave the dock.
Getting the vessels Polish-ready
Moving vessels into a new country isn’t just a matter of driving them there. Each country has its own rules on how commercial vessels are coded, certified and crewed, and Poland is no exception.
We’ve worked through the Polish requirements so all four vessels could operate legally and without delay. That included:
- Making sure vessel certification and coding meet Polish requirements
- Sorting paperwork and documentation ahead of time, rather than at the quayside
- Making sure crews are properly briefed on what’s needed once they arrive
Paperwork is never glamourous, but it’s the part that keeps projects moving. Clients shouldn’t have to worry about whether a vessel is cleared to work. We take care of it.
An emerging sector, and a chance to get in early
Poland’s offshore wind industry is still taking shape, and there’s a lot of work ahead: surveys, construction support, crew transfers, installation and, eventually, long-term operations and maintenance. Being involved from the start means we’re building relationships and local knowledge that will matter as the sector grows.
We’re also learning as we go. Every job in Poland adds to what we know about local ports, authorities, suppliers and ways of working. We pass that on to the next crew and the next client.
What’s next
Two months, four vessels and 12 crew in, we’re keen to keep growing our work in Poland and across the wider Baltic. If you’re planning offshore wind or marine work there and need Rib support, we’d be glad to talk it through.
Get in touch with the CRC team to find out how we can support your project.
