Ørsted has announced a new partnership with WindServe Marine LLC, an offshore wind services provider.
The companies have entered into a partnership to construct two purpose-built offshore crew transfer vessels (CTVs), which will transport personnel for construction, maintenance and operation from port to offshore wind farms.
The first CTV will be built by U.S. Workboats in Hubert, N.C., and used for Ørsted’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project, followed by subsequent service on Northeast projects. The second CTV will be built by WindServe’s affiliate shipyard, Senesco Marine, in North Kingstown, R.I., specifically for Ørsted and Eversource’s Revolution Wind project, to be located off the southern New England coast.
“Choosing WindServe to build our CTVs at Senesco will provide locally built vessels and a local operator for the domestic offshore wind industry,” says Thomas Brostrøm, president and CEO of Ørsted North America. “WindServe Marine’s experience with Jones Act vessel operations and full-service shipyard fabrication, coupled with their dedication to the future of green energy, make them a great partner as we expand operations along the East Coast.”
The CTVs will be a high-speed, custom design from BMT Group – an international design, engineering, science and risk management consultancy – for East Coast sea conditions. BMT has a large portfolio of offshore wind vessels, with 49 CTVs currently operating in Europe. The vessels are classed by DNV GL, a provider of risk management and quality assurance services.
“With over 95 years of experience in the maritime industry, we are committed to offering premier offshore wind support services to the East Coast and look forward to contributing to the future of offshore wind growth,” states Craig Reinauer, president and CEO of the Reinauer Group. “Thanks to Ørsted, this partnership between two global leaders in the offshore wind industry will provide new, sustainable jobs for U.S. workers.”
The first CTV is already under construction, with delivery anticipated early next year. U.S. Workboats’ 160,000-square-foot indoor fabrication building enables it to deliver multiple vessels a year with staggered build schedules.
Construction of the second CTV will commence in late 2020. Senesco Marine’s Rhode Island facility employs hundreds of local skilled employees. It offers 220,000 square feet of indoor fabrication space, with a fully segregated aluminum manufacturing area. Ørsted’s order of these new CTVs will help create and sustain in-state jobs for over 40 local tradespeople, engineers and managers.
