Kongsberg Maritime (KM) will supply its wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) technology to the US’ first Jones Act compliant jack-up.
The contract with American shipbuilder Keppel AmFELS, will see KM supply a technology package for a new WTIV being built for Dominion Energy.
Capable of transporting and installing current- and future-generation wind turbines and foundations, the new NG-16000XL WTIV will be the first to be built in compliance worth the Jones Act, which regulates maritime commerce in the US.
The federal law requires goods shipped between US ports to be transported on ships that are built, owned and operated by its citizens.
The new vessel is expected to be delivered by the end of 2023 and will include KM’s technology for motion control, propulsion and dynamic positioning functionalities to maintain operability in all conditions.
In addition, KM’s thrusters will secure optimised performance both for transit, manoeuvring and dynamic positioning, with power supplied by six Bergen diesel engines.
Mooring and line handling is facilitated by a comprehensive KM’s deck machinery package.
Monitoring and control of these components will be managed by a K-Chief 700 marine automation system, and the delivery also includes a large telecommunications package.
The electrical system will use KM’s Energy Solutions.
Dominion Energy’s senior vice president of project construction Mark D Mitchell said: “Kongsberg Maritime brings years of experience and state-of-the-art technology to the construction of America’s first Jones Act-compliant offshore wind turbine installation vessel, which is a critical asset for the growth of offshore wind generation in the US.”
KM president Egil Haugsdal added: “We take a genuine pride in bringing the benefits of our technological expertise to all maritime sectors.
“The bespoke solution we have devised for wind turbine installation vessels indicates how much thought and effort we devote to facilitating and encouraging sustainable marine operations.
“We are pleased to be a key supplier to the first WTIV to be built under the Jones Act requirements, ably demonstrating that Kongsberg Maritime is well placed to be a trusted partner in WTIV construction projects for the US market.”