Vineyard Wind has selected DEME Offshore for a turbine installation and transport deal at the 800MW Vineyard 1 wind farm off the US state of Massachusetts.
The Belgian marine contractor will deliver GE Haliade-X turbines for the project due online in 2023, as first revealed exclusively by subscriber-only reNEWS on 4 March.
DEME Offshore is teaming up with FOSS Maritime, a US maritime service contractor that provides union jobs for its employees, according to Vineyard Wind, a joint venture between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.
FOSS will provide the Jones Act compliant feeder vessels, which will see the turbines transported from the port of New Bedford to a jack-up in the field.
The DEME Offshore office in Massachusetts will be the base of operations for activities.
“We’re very excited to make this announcement today not only because it’s an important step in the development of our first project but also because of the impact it will have on the US workforce,” said Vineyard Wind CEO Lars Pedersen.
“The offshore wind industry has tremendous potential to create good paying jobs and investment opportunities while also reducing carbon pollution.”
“DEME Offshore US is proud to work together with Vineyard Wind on the start of a new era in the US offshore wind market,” said the Belgian firm’s US director Jan Klaassen.
“The partnership of DEME Offshore US and FOSS Maritime brings our expertise about offshore wind and US related activities together, which is the cornerstone of a successful solution.”
Vineyard Wind is expected to reach financial close in the second half of 2021 and begin delivering clean energy to Massachusetts in 2023.