Van Oord to Buy MPI Offshore from Vroon

Van Oord has signed an agreement with Vroon Group to acquire MPI Offshore, a specialist offshore wind installation contractor.

Van Oord will take over the MPI organisation in Stokesley, UK, and the vessels and crew of the MPI Adventure and MPI Resolution with associated contracts.

The transaction is subject to the approval of competition authorities and due diligence and is expected to be closed by the end of September 2018.

With this acquisition, Van Oord will further strengthen its global wind organisation and in particular in the UK wind market, the company said.

”The acquisition is fully in line with our ambitions and investment programme for the coming years,” Pieter Van Oord, CEO of Van Oord, said.

”Offshore wind will play an important role in the energy transition. By acquiring the MPI Adventure and MPI Resolution and the addition of qualified personnel, our position in the offshore wind industry will be further strengthened.”

Van Oord is currently preparing for the construction of the Borssele III / IV offshore wind farms in the Netherlands and the Norther offshore wind farm in Belgium. Last May, Van Oord was awarded a wind project in Taiwan, and thus took first steps towards the Asian offshore wind market.

Earlier this month, Jan De Nul acquired part of the offshore business of MPI Offshore, as well as the wind turbine installation vessel MPI Discovery.