Ramsgate has secured dozens of jobs after the company behind what will eventually become the world’s largest wind farm announced it will use the town’s port as its maintenance base.

Thanet Offshore Wind Ltd (TOW) has signed a long-term lease with Thanet council, enabling it to use an existing warehouse on Military Road to accommodate a team of 25 engineers and technicians.

A new pontoon will be installed at Port Ramsgate to allow safe and efficient access to the specialist vessels carrying crews to the wind farm site.

TOW will also have a presence at the former Richborough power station where an onshore substation is being built.

Dr Steve Ladyman, MP for South Thanet, said: "I’ve always believed that the Port has a big future and this is another step along the way to proving that.

“It could be the making of the Port to have that sort of activity going on.

“Not only is this fantastic news for the Thanet economy, it’s also great news for the environment.”

The wind farm will increase the UK’s offshore wind capacity by nearly a third and generate enough energy to supply 240,000 homes.

Construction work at Richborough began in January and the company has warned drivers using the A256 to expect some disruption until early 2009.