PGE Baltica – part of the PGE Group and holder of the largest portfolio of offshore wind projects in Poland – has signed a letter of intent with CRIST and its special-purpose vehicle WIKE, as well as with the Baltic Industrial Group, establishing cooperation in the design and construction of installation and service vessels for offshore wind farms. Through this agreement, the signatories aim to support the development of a local supply chain for Poland’s offshore wind sector.

“Investors, future operators of offshore wind farms, as well as suppliers and subcontractors, all want to see as many Polish companies as possible actively and broadly involved in the supply chain for offshore wind in Poland. To achieve a level of industrial engagement that satisfies all stakeholders and to build an effective value chain, we need to act together and with a long-term perspective,” said Dariusz Marzec, CEO of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna.

“PGE Baltica serves as the Group’s competence hub for the development, construction, and operation of offshore wind farms. We are not considering capital investment in the construction of an installation fleet, as we are not and will not be a shipowner. However, we want to share our technical and substantive expertise, which can support our partners in developing and realising specialised vessel concepts for our future offshore wind projects and their associated needs,” emphasised Piotr Dziubałtowski, Vice President for Operations at PGE Baltica.

“We are actively participating in the development of the offshore wind sector, including in Poland. Our subsidiary, CRIST Offshore, was the first company in Poland to sign a contract for the turnkey design and construction of a transformer substation for the first phase of Polish offshore wind farms. Through this contract, we have entered the Tier 1 supplier level. We also anticipate building a jack-up vessel for Polish offshore wind farms, specifically for the second phase of projects, and time is of the essence, requiring urgent project planning. We are very pleased that PGE has agreed to initiate a technical dialogue aimed at increasing local content,” said Ireneusz Ćwirko, CEO of CRIST S.A.

“WIKE has the potential to become the Polish operator of a jack-up unit, built in a Polish shipyard, for the construction and servicing of offshore wind farms in the Baltic. Our objective is to ensure both the construction and future operation of this unit,” stated Wojciech Kąkol, CEO of WIKE S.A.

“The signing of this letter of intent represents a further step in strengthening our local content participation in Poland’s offshore wind sector. The Baltic Industrial Group has the experience, resources, and capabilities to deliver comprehensive shipbuilding and offshore projects, including the supply of hull sections and blocks, as well as outfitting vessels with piping, electrical systems, structural elements, and deck equipment such as offshore cranes. We are currently delivering advanced offshore cranes for installation vessel decks, demonstrating our readiness to actively support this initiative,” said Adam Kowalski, CEO of the Baltic Industrial Group.

CRIST S.A. is the only shipyard in Europe to have built three offshore wind installation vessels and several service vessels for offshore wind farms. It is currently constructing a modern cable-laying vessel and multiple service vessels for foreign clients. Under the terms of the letter of intent, CRIST, WIKE, and the Baltic Industrial Group, part of the Industrial Development Agency, have committed to participating in tender processes for the charter of installation and service vessels required for future PGE Group offshore projects. Any resulting contracts, including reservation agreements, will be concluded in accordance with project-specific procurement regulations.