Safeway at IPF 2025: Taking Offshore Access Innovation to the Americas
From April 28 to May 1, 2025, Safeway Gangway proudly took part in the International Partnering Forum (IPF) in Virginia Beach, USA — the leading offshore wind and ocean renewables conference in the Americas. Organized by Oceantic Network, this year’s event brought together thousands of professionals from across the global offshore energy sector. As the industry converges to accelerate clean energy deployment, Safeway was there to contribute, connect, and move the conversation forward.
Representing Safeway at IPF 2025 was our CEO, Wijnand van Aalst, who joined the Netherlands Pavilion — a collective presence of Dutch offshore innovators and suppliers. Throughout the week, Wijnand engaged in strategic discussions with developers, vessel owners, and technology leaders looking to raise standards in offshore logistics and Walk-to-Work operations.
A Global Solution for a Growing Market
Safeway’s presence at IPF highlights our commitment to supporting the U.S. offshore wind market, which is growing rapidly with projects like Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind and others along the East Coast. As these projects scale up, the need for reliable, efficient, and motion-compensated offshore access becomes critical.
Our gangway systems — including the Seagull, Osprey, and Albatross — are already trusted in markets such as Europe and Asia. They are engineered to meet the operational demands of offshore wind farms, construction vessels, and SOVs working in dynamic marine environments. With over 200,000 safe transfers completed, Safeway offers proven solutions to reduce downtime, improve safety, and increase operational efficiency — all while supporting long-term cost control and energy transition goals.
At the Heart of the Action
Hosted at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, IPF 2025 featured an impressive lineup of plenary sessions, policy panels, supply chain matchmaking, and ocean energy summits. Wijnand van Aalst was on-site throughout the event, available at booths #1627, #1631, and #1727 — ready for open conversation, collaborative exploration, and real project dialogue.
“There’s a unique energy at IPF. The U.S. offshore market is scaling quickly, and there’s real interest in smart, safe solutions. It’s exciting to be part of that momentum — and to bring Dutch engineering expertise into the mix,”
— Wijnand van Aalst, CEO, Safeway Gangway
More Than a Trade Show — A Global Dialogue
IPF isn’t just another conference. It’s where high-level decisions are made and long-term partnerships begin. The event connects global suppliers with U.S. project developers, state and federal policymakers, and innovative startups — all working toward a shared goal: scaling offshore wind in a way that’s fast, safe, and sustainable.
For Safeway, this kind of dialogue is key. Our goal isn’t just to supply gangways — it’s to be a strategic partner in every phase of offshore access: from design and planning to deployment, operation, and optimization. Whether you’re building out a new SOV fleet, retrofitting existing vessels, or planning logistics for a multi-GW wind farm, we’re ready to bring real solutions to the table.
Looking Ahead
Our participation in IPF 2025 is part of a broader strategy to expand Safeway’s impact in new regions, including North America. We believe the challenges of this market — long distances to shore, unpredictable sea states, and ambitious project timelines — deserve access systems that are as advanced as the wind farms they support.
If you met Wijnand at the event — thank you. If we missed you, there’s still time to connect. Reach out via LinkedIn or email to continue the conversation.
📩 info@safewaygangway.com
🔗 Connect with Wijnand van Aalst on LinkedIn