Posted on April 20, 2021
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation has taken another step forward in its plans to build a subsea rock installation vessel to support U.S. offshore wind farm projects.
As we reported earlier, GLDD engaged Ulstein Design & Solutions B.V. to undertake conceptual and regulatory design engineering for the Jones Act compliant inclined fall pipe vessel. GLDD has now contracted Ulstein to continue the project with the integration engineering of the vessel.
The scope of work includes the selection of vessel main equipment with integration engineering plus the start of detail design. Awarding this contract is intended to advance the engineering work, ensuring the vessel is on schedule to meet its operational target of second quarter 2024.
“It is a privilege to work with Ulstein on this landmark project as they continue to bring global best practices, expertise and creativity to the design of this first-of-its-kind U.S. vessel,” says Mike Greenwood, senior project sponsor at GLDD. “Given the priority the White House has placed on the offshore wind market, special-built vessels such as this will serve as the critical foundation for the advancement of this key industry.”
“Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the design process and cooperation with GLDD has been highly productive and efficient,” says Edwin van Leeuwen, managing director at Ulstein Design & Solutions B.V. “All credits to both GLDD and Ulstein project teams that have been working on this project since June 2020 from their home offices. Ulstein’s strength and added value to customers are reflected in this engineering contract.
“This is the result of the close cooperation between our design and engineering teams in the Netherlands, Norway and Poland as well as using Ulstein’s long shipbuilding competence.”
The vessel will be built at a yet-to-be-selected U.S. shipyard. To meet general U.S. working practices, Ulstein has developed the design completely in the U.S. customary measurement system (inches and such), rather than converting metric dimensions at a later stage.
