There is every reason for satisfaction for Port Manager Lisette Sønderby. Thorsminde Port has, if anything, pulled ahead of its competitors and will become the operations and maintenance center for German RWE when construction of the Thor wind farm begins. At the same time, the port has also been chosen as the base for Vattenfall's construction management when the offshore wind farms Vesterhav Nord and Syd are to be built. When asked what will happen next, Port Manager Lisette Sønderby reminds us of one thing.
- This is crazy, she says, beaming with unconditional joy and continuing.
- We have been aware of our size limitations all along, says Lisette Sønderby.
She has the plans ready in the drawer for what is going to happen. It won't be long before up to two so-called crew transport vessels will move in for Vattenfall in the western part of the port, which has already been dubbed the energy port.
- We need to have deepened the port basin from the current three meters to four meters. Then we need to have reviewed our shore power system and updated the conditions. That also means a new approach road, and now we can renovate the old fishing buildings to the energy port, she says, pointing out the approach road to the energy port on a map of the port.
- We are working on establishing a heliport, because that is what is needed. That is why we are in dialogue with several players, explains Lisette Sønderby.
The development requires more employees
The many new initiatives that will take place at Thorsminde Port also mean that there will be more jobs internally in the port.
- We are going to start from scratch, so we really have the opportunity to do it in the right way. It is about making changes now that can be used in the future. This also means that we will scale up the port with a technical manager, explains Lisette Sønderby.
The port manager is fully aware of what the increased activity at the port means for the city of Thorsminde. She herself lives in the coastal town with 300 inhabitants with her husband and children.
- We hear that there will be between 200-400 people here in the construction phase, and later it means 50-70 jobs here in the town. That's a lot for us. Of course the town is very welcoming of those jobs, Lisette Sønderby confirms and explains.
- The port was built in 1967, and fishing here had its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s, when there were around 100 fishing vessels based here. Today there are 15 left. It's clear that it's something that rubs off on everyone here. You're affected by it. Therefore, everyone is ripe for the new, and the activity that will take place, she says of great local goodwill and support in Thorsminde.
The big storm
How the small town will be able to cope with the big storm is already clear, because it must be a city in balance, where there is room for everyone.
- We have other actors working on mobile homes, which will be located on old football fields and other municipal areas, and then we also have the campsite, she says.
Thorsminde is located in such a way that there is a short way to other places. That makes it easy if there is more work than for the town's dock blacksmith and a carpenter.
- The location here, where it is half an hour's drive to the two ports of Hvide Sande and Thyborøn, means that we do not have a large number of craftsmen here. They come here by car. The same applies now with overnight stays, there are many options within a relatively short distance. We will not occupy the summer houses, because there must also be room for the tourists, says Lisette Sønderby.
There will be both the energy port and the fishing port.
Consideration for tourists has also already been taken in other places in the two parts of the port. The energy port is located furthest to the west, and space has been found for the fishing port before it.
- Business and industry will be in the west port, where you can work and make noise. Tourists are welcome to look, but not to disturb, explains Lisette Sønderby about a mutual coexistence where there is room for everyone.
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