The first US-built offshore wind service vessel is in the water and sea trials are planned to start in early March.
Atlantic Wind Transfers is supplying a 21-metre crew vessel for Deepwater Wind’s 30MW Block Island wind project off Rhode Island.
Workers floated the vessel, installed a crane and are completing final electronic connections and interior outfitting dockside at Quonset Point, Atlantic Wind Transfers president Charles Donadio told reNEWS.
The $4m crew vessel is slated to go into service by the beginning of May to help with Block Island construction and then operations and maintenance.
Rhode Island shipyard Blount Boats is building the high-speed catamaran based on a South Boats IOW design. Equipment was supplied by MAN Engines, HamiltonJet New Zealand, KVH, Imtra Corporation, Cummins Power Generation and Palfinger.
Atlantic Wind Transfers, a subsidiary of Rhode Island Fast Ferry, has a 20-year crew transfer contract for the Block Island pilot and has set its sights on bigger projects in the area.
Deepwater, Dong Energy and OffshoreMW hold commercial leases for 1GW sites between Martha’s Vineyard and Block Island “right off my dock,” said Donadio.
“We’re positioned in the best location to service these wind farms for construction and long-term O&M,” he said. “The opportunity off of Rhode Island, and for Rhode Island, is huge.”
Image: Atlantic Wind
Block Island vessel hits waves
Atlantic Wind to trial first US-built offshore service boat in March
By EBS