Posted on March 19, 2024
Maersk Supply Service has partnered with Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) to speed up the installation of offshore wind farms in the United States.
The partnership centers on unique a windfarm feeder concept specifically designed for Maersk Supply Service’s next-generation Wind Installation Vessel (WIV).
The partnership will see the construction of a purpose-built windfarm feeder spread consisting of two tugs and two barges, set to be delivered in 2026. The vessels will be constructed by Bollinger Shipyards, the largest privately-owned shipyard group in the U.S, and operated by ECO.
The new feeder spread will transport wind turbine components or foundations to the installation site, while the wind installation vessel remains on location for successive installations. The approach is said to significantly speed up installation times.
Maersk Supply Service described the partnership as a “natural next step” that will help accelerate the rollout of offshore wind farms.
“Our new installation concept can make offshore wind farm installations significantly faster with estimated efficiency gains of 30%,” said Christian M. Ingerslev, CEO at Maersk Supply Service.
The solution also aims to increase logistical access to more U.S. ports. Using U.S. tugs and barges to transport turbine components, Maersk Supply Service’s locking mechanism between the WIV and barge will make installations less weather-dependent, thus reducing the installation time for a wind park.
Dino Chouest, Executive Vice President of ECO, is equally optimistic about the partnership. “This partnership facilitates expansion of our existing footprint in the U.S. offshore wind industry, and our decades of offshore experience, efficiency and focus on technology can play an important role in the further development of the U.S. offshore wind segment.”
A. P. Moller – Maersk divested Maersk Supply Service last year as part of a strategic restructuring that it initiated in 2016. The company was sold to A.P. Moller Holding, the parent company of the A.P. Moller Group. Maersk Supply Service has on order an offshore wind turbine installation vessel at Seatrium Limited (formerly Sembcorp Marine) in Singapore, which is expected to be delivered in 2025. The company has received a contract award from Equinor to install turbines for the Empire Wind project off of New York State.
