The immigration exemption that allows the employment of foreign nationals joining vessels engaged in the construction of maintenance of offshore wind projects in UK territorial waters will no longer be granted beyond 31 October 2022.
This is the final extension for this concession, and it will not be renewed beyond this date.
All foreign nationals coming to the UK to work in UK waters, including on a wind farm, will need permission to work in the UK before starting work.
In June, IMCA published a ‘Global Specialist Offshore Support Vessel Market Overview’ report highlighting the risks to the US offshore energy industry, should the crewing legislation, referred to as the American Offshore Workers Fairness Act, be passed into law by the US Senate.
According to the report, the demand for all categories of offshore construction vessels is growing significantly and is starting to outstrip supply in certain areas.
Rates are increasing rapidly, and vessel owners/contractors are selecting only the most favourable regions and projects to work.
The huge demand for US mariners, crew, and technicians to safely operate these vessels is materially undersupplied and there are not enough training programs and other initiatives underway to resolve this in the short term
said IMCA.
