Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) has contracted Ulstein to carry out the integration engineering for its Jones Act-compliant dynamically positioned rock installation vessel.
The scope of work includes the selection of vessel main equipment with integration engineering plus the start of detail design.
In late 2020 GLDD initially engaged Ulstein Design and Solutions for the vessel’s conceptual and regulatory design engineering.
Awarding this contract is intended to advance the engineering work, ensuring the vessel is on schedule to meet its operational target of the second quarter of 2024.
GLDD project sponsor Mike Greenwood said: “It is a privilege to work with Ulstein on this landmark project as they continue to bring global best practices, expertise and creativity to the design of this first-of-its-kind US vessel.
“Given the priority the White House has placed on the offshore wind market, special-built vessels such as this will serve as the critical foundation for the advancement of this key industry.”
The vessel will be built at a yet-to-be-selected US shipyard.
To meet general US working practices, Ulstein developed the design completely in the imperial system, rather than converting metric dimensions at a later stage.
Ulstein managing director Edwin van Leeuwen added: “All credits to both GLDD and Ulstein project teams that have been working on this project since June 2020 from their home offices.
“Ulstein’s strength and added value to customers is reflected in this engineering contract.
“It is the result of the close cooperation between our design and engineering teams in the Netherlands, Norway and Poland and using Ulstein’s long shipbuilding competence.”
While the vessel will initially serve the east coast, GLDD said it will be available as offshore wind projects develop along the Gulf of Mexico and the west coast.