On April 6th the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency issued the permit to the planning company Offshore Ostsee Wind AG for the construction of the offshore wind park “Kriegers Flak”. Along with the approval for the offshore wind park “Baltic I” granted by the state authorities in February following the regional impact assessment procedure, the foundation is laid for the realisation of the project together with local companies. As grid connections are already in place, the construction of “Baltic I” encompassing 21 wind turbines can begin in 2006. “Baltic I” is the first German offshore wind park in the Baltic Sea, and its construction will take place out of Rostock. In addition, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety issued the Maritime Institute Warnemünde e.V. the official notice of funding for the project of the construction of the offshore research platform FINO II in the Kriegers Flak area. These developments provide the opportunity to tap into the alternative energy market of offshore wind energy and to establish an offshore wind energy competence centre in Rostock. Rostock Business is actively supporting these developments and will be representing the “Offshore Energies – Competence Network Rostock” at the international trade fair for the wind energy industry, HUSUMwind, from 20 – 24 September 2005. Rostock Business, together with other partners of the network, can be found in Hall 4 at stand A33. Around 500 exhibitors and 20,000 visitors from the industry are expected at this year’s fair. These positive developments in the wind energy in Rostock are sure to draw further interest to the area. Additional information may be obtained at tel. 0381 - 377 19 15 or www.offshore-energies.de.