J noted Vestas choose the French port of Dunkirk as base of operations for building the 300MW Thanet windpark in the Thames Estuary.  Indeed, a crucial decision, and a loss of UK jobs (gain for France.)

Here's a long-winded explanation from the Vestas PR J flagged.

Vestas pulled the V90 back from new sales in the offshore market after initial negotiations began with Warwick. After a year of engineering work and testing on a new internal component, Vestas made the V90 available for offshore again in May 2008.

"On the sales side, we had applied the brakes to a full stop," says Anders Søe-Jensen, President of Vestas Offshore. "For a new organization that was watching a market blooming around us, it was a painstaking affair." Vestas Offshore used the time well, however, he adds. "We had been growing at tremendous speed. This gave us time to look at the way we were organized and improve that."

More importantly, he says, Vestas designed an improved, methodical way to test products before they are released at its new test centre in Denmark. "We have some of the world's most advanced test facilities, where our turbines and components are very thoroughly tested before release. This goes for onshore as well as offshore," says Anders Søe-Jensen. "Our new test facility helps to ensure that the Vestas product quality remains best in class."

He adds, "Offshore, the lesson is: you have to be bold, but very cautious. Never put a prototype offshore. We also learned that you need knowledgeable guys offshore. Experience is everything out there - that's what makes a difference."