Vineyard Wind has selected DEME Offshore US as its contractor for the offshore transport and installation of the wind turbine generators for its Vineyard Wind 1 project, the first large scale offshore wind installation in the United States.
The 800MW project is a JV between Iberdrola-backed Avangrid Renewables and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP).
Under the agreement, DEME Offshore US will team up with FOSS Maritime Company, a maritime service contractor that provides union jobs for its employees.
FOSS will provide the Jones Act compliant feeder vessels, a concept by which the wind turbines will be transported from the port of New Bedford to the specialized DEME Offshore US installation jack-up vessel.
The DEME Offshore US office in Massachusetts will be the base of operations for activities for the Vineyard Wind project.
Vineyard Wind chief executive Lars T Pedersen said: “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.
“The offshore wind industry has tremendous potential to create good paying jobs and investment opportunities while also reducing carbon pollution.
“By working with companies like DEME Offshore US and FOSS Maritime, we can ensure that US labor is gaining from the experience of well-established operators, so that the industry can take proper root and grow a fully American workforce.”
DEME Offshore US director Jan Klaassen said: “DEME Offshore US LLC is proud to work together with Vineyard Wind on the start of a new era in the US offshore wind market.
“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.
“Our method is Jones Act compliant, driven by high-tech engineering, patented solutions and special adaptions to both companies’ vessels for this project.
“The deployment of the US feeder concept by the DEME Offshore US/FOSS Maritime Team will create a great opportunity for US mariners to get familiar with the offshore wind industry.”
Located 15 miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Vineyard Wind 1 is slated to become the first large-scale offshore wind farm in the United States.
Vineyard Wind is expected to reach financial close in the second half of 2021 and begin delivering clean energy to Massachusetts in 2023.