Dominion Energy has chosen Huisman to supply the crane to be used on the US’ first Jones Act-compliant offshore wind installation vessel.
Huisman will fabricate a crane that will be able to lift 2200 tonnes that will enable the installation of next generation offshore wind turbines, Dominion said.
Dominion Energy vice president of generation construction Mark Mitchell said: “A Jones Act compliant offshore wind installation vessel is vital for the continued growth of the US offshore wind industry.”
The vessel, which is likely to enter service in 2023, is expected to be based out of the Hampton Roads region of Virginia with a US crew.
Mitchell added: “Huisman is a global leader and brings years of experience to this venture and will further enable the offshore wind industry to bring clean, renewable energy to customers in the US.”
Huisman chief executive David Roodenburg said: “We are proud to contribute to Dominion Energy’s ambition to enable large scale offshore wind development in the United States and we are grateful for their trust in Huisman to deliver and install this crane.”
Dominion Energy announced in May it is leading a consortium to build a Jones Act compliant installation vessel.
The utility expects the vessel to be fully utilised on a pipeline exceeding 5GW of US offshore wind construction through 2027, enabling the investment needed for this first of its kind vessel.
The Jones Act is a federal law that regulates maritime commerce in the US and requires goods shipped between US ports to be transported on ships that are built, owned and operated by US citizens or permanent residents.