- The marine contracting sector is essential to achieving Europe’s offshore wind and energy transition targets, contributing over €45 billion in annual GVA and supporting 220,000 direct jobs.
- Industry leaders urge EU policymakers to provide long-term regulatory clarity and investment certainty, particularly regarding alternative fuels and port infrastructure.
- The sector plays a strategic role beyond energy — including subsea telecoms, carbon capture, and energy security — reinforcing its broader importance to Europe’s economy.
- Without coordinated support, Europe risks falling behind in its clean energy and industrial goals despite the sector’s readiness to invest and scale operations.
The marine contracting sector has emerged as a vital component of Europe’s energy transition and digital infrastructure development, underlining its strategic importance in advancing climate goals and connectivity. A recent economic impact assessment projects that by 2025, the industry will generate over €45 billion in direct gross value added (GVA) and support more than 220,000 direct jobs across Europe, the UK, and Norway. This marks the first in-depth study assessing the economic and strategic weight of marine contracting, as highlighted by IMCA.
A Cornerstone of Europe’s Offshore Energy Future
The economic study sheds light on the often-overlooked marine contracting sector, underscoring its pivotal role in Europe’s renewable energy infrastructure and the urgency for policy recognition. Despite its central contribution to building and maintaining offshore wind capacity, the sector remains underappreciated by decision-makers. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) emphasized that Europe’s target of installing 300–400 GW of offshore wind by 2050 hinges on creating investment certainty for marine contractors, whose fleet and expertise are indispensable to the clean energy transition.
The report by PA Consulting outlines the sector’s broad capabilities — from installing offshore wind turbines and subsea cables to enabling power interconnectors, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and decommissioning outdated infrastructure. The sector’s assets include advanced vessels, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), survey and trenching tools, and specialized offshore engineering teams equipped to work in some of the world’s harshest marine environments.
To meet 2050 targets, over 10,000 offshore wind turbines will need to be deployed across the EU, UK, and Norway. Achieving this will require significant investment in heavy-lift vessels, trained personnel, and upgraded port facilities. With vessels expected to serve for decades, long-term regulatory and commercial clarity is essential for the industry to commit to such investments.
Industry Leaders Call for Policy Certainty
Industry leaders are urging European policymakers to deliver long-term regulatory clarity to support the marine contracting sector’s role in enabling the continent’s energy transition. IMCA CEO Iain Grainger emphasized the sector’s readiness to partner with EU decision-makers but stressed that coordinated policy and sustained investment certainty are essential to meet future demand. “The sector is ready — but it cannot do this alone,” he said, pointing to the need for cohesive strategies and enduring regulatory frameworks.
Lee Billingham, IMCA’s Director of Strategy, echoed the call for clarity, particularly in light of regulatory pressures such as the EU emissions trading scheme and the IMO’s net-zero goals for shipping. Key areas like port access, fuel supply, and regulatory alignment must evolve together, he added, urging governments to work closely with marine contractors to create a stable environment for long-term capital decisions.
Alon Carmel of PA Consulting highlighted the sector’s outsized economic contribution — more than €45 billion in annual GVA and over 220,000 direct jobs — as well as its vital role in delivering net-zero infrastructure and securing Europe’s data and communications backbone. He reinforced the view that marine contracting is not only central to offshore wind and energy projects but also to the broader digital economy.
Grainger reiterated that marine contractors are already delivering significant economic and strategic value, but warned that meeting Europe’s climate and energy security goals will require urgent infrastructure investment. He concluded by stating that marine contracting now stands on par with Europe’s largest industries in terms of scale and industrial importance.
Did you subscribe to our Daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: IMCA
