Joint venture partners Orsted and Eversource are to charter five new crew transfer vessels (CTVs) from WindServe Marine and American Offshore Services (AOS) for the JV’s three offshore wind farms of the US north-east coast.
WindServe Marine’s affiliate shipyard, Senesco Marine, at Quonset Point in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, will build three of the CTVs, while AOS is partnering with Blount Boats & Shipyard of Warren to build another two vessels.
The charters will create about 80 local construction jobs at Senesco and Blount Boats, plus another approximately 48 jobs for captains and crew who will work aboard the vessels, primarily during the wind farms’ construction.
A number of regional suppliers will provide vessel components, such as electronics, engines, cranes, aluminium and safety equipment.
Construction work is expected to start early this year at Senesco on the 27-metre long WindServe vessels and at Blount Boats on the 31-metre long AOS vessels.
All five vessels will be built over the next two years, ready to provide crew transfer support during the construction phases of the Orsted and Eversource joint venture’s three projects.
The first vessel will be completed by early 2023.
Orsted Offshore North America chief executive David Hardy said: “Rhode Island knows offshore wind and we are proud to be delivering even more jobs to the Ocean State’s marine trades to build these new crew vessels.
“Our continuing commitment to Rhode Island shipbuilders, together with our selection of first-rate regional vessel operators, is just the latest example of our work to build a domestic supply chain to support the growing offshore wind industry.”
Eversource Energy president and CEO Joe Nolan said: “Rhode Island has a long history of leading in ocean-based industries and has established one of the country’s most innovative and expansive blue economies,.
“This partnership between two outstanding local shipbuilders and two major vessel operators will be critical as we build and operate our portfolio of Northeast wind farms.
“Offshore wind is a growing industry with tremendous potential to create jobs and grow the domestic supply chain, and with today’s news, we are proud to once again help turn that promise into a new reality.”
AOS co-owner Northern Offshore Services owner David Kristensson said: “The AOS newbuild program for Orsted and Eversource will bring over 40 skilled shipyard jobs to Rhode Island.
“In addition, this partnership will give dozens of US merchant mariners the opportunity to embark on a new and exciting career path, throughout the Northeast.
“We are thrilled to bring the first purpose-built hybrid ready CTVs to the US market for Orsted and Eversource and remain poised on delivering on our promise to bring maximum economic benefit to local suppliers.”
Blount Boats president Marcia Blount said: “Blount Boats has emerged as a leader in the CTV space having built two of the three US flagged CTVs currently in operation.
“Blount looks forward to substantially increasing its highly skilled workforce while maintaining its reputation for quality construction during the build of these hybrid ready CTVs, the first vessels in the AOS fleet.”
WindServe Marine managing director Josh Diedrich said: “WindServe Marine is excited to continue our CTV build program at Senesco Marine to deliver on our long-term commitments to create local jobs and provide high quality vessel operations for the US offshore wind industry,.
“We look forward to expanding our partnership with Orsted, Eversource, and industry stakeholders to ensure the success of US offshore wind projects.”
Senesco Marine president Ted Williams said: “Senesco Marine is proud to continue its partnership with WindServe Marine to build innovative and efficient CTVs for Orsted and Eversource.
“Capable of builds of all sizes, CTVs are one of many vessel types that Senesco Marine builds with the highest of quality and safety standards.
“Senesco will commence local Northeast construction on three CTVs in early 2022 to support the expanding offshore wind industry on the East Coast.”