US renewables specialist Aeolus Energy has signed a contract with Ulstein Design & Solutions to design a Service Operations Vessel for the latter’s offshore wind market.
The deal marks the first stage of the former’s plans to put together a Jones Act-compliant fleet to service the expansion of offshore wind in US waters.
The SOV will be based on Ulstein’s SX195 design and will be customised to the customer’s specifications.
The vessel will be Aeolus Energy’s initial investment into a fleet that will include cable ships, crew transfer vessels and hotel ships.
All craft will be designed to service the US offshore wind industry from installation through to decommissioning.
Aeolus will build all the vessels in US shipyards.
“The design and ultimate construction of these vessels will result in significant job creation and is a demonstration of confidence in the American shipbuilding industry,” said Elia Golfin, chief executive of Aeolus Energy.