Maersk Supply Service is to partner with Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) for the construction and operation of a wind farm feeder concept specifically designed for the former’s next-generation wind installation vessel (pictured).
The technology being developed by Maersk Supply Service looks to enable steady transfer of turbine components at sea to accelerate the rollout of offshore wind.
As a key component to the installation process, this newbuild feeder spread will transport wind turbine components or foundations to the installation site, while the wind installation vessel (WIV) remains on location to complete successive installations, allow faster installation, and thereby enable the wind park to be on-grid faster.
The specialised solution aims to open access to a greater number of US ports logistically.
Using US-built, -owned and -flagged tugs and barges to ferry turbine components, the locking and stabilizing mechanism between the WIV and barge will render installations far less dependent on weather conditions, thereby reducing the number of operating days required to install a wind park, Maersk said.
Maersk Supply Service is already invested in the US offshore wind market, and said partnering with ECO to construct a purpose-built wind farm feeder spread is a natural next step.
Christian M Ingerslev, chief executive at Maersk Supply Service, said: “Maersk Supply Service’s new installation concept can make offshore wind farm installations significantly faster with estimated efficiency gains of 30%.
“The partnership with ECO makes this new technology available for the US offshore wind market enabling faster offshore wind installations in the US.”
The purpose-built feeder spread includes two tugs and two barges are due to be delivered in 2026.
They will be owned and operated by ECO and constructed by Bollinger Shipyards – the largest privately-owned shipyard group in the United States.
Dino Chouest, executive vice president of ECO, said: “This partnership facilitates expansion of our existing footprint in the US offshore wind industry, and our decades of offshore experience, efficiency and focus on technology can play an important role in the further development of the US offshore wind segment.”