Posted on June 16, 2026
Starting today, DredgeWire is pleased that Eric Ramírez Barreto of RMZ Marine will be contributing insightful pieces for DredgeWire with his insights on the maritime market.
We think you’ll be intrigued by what he has to say.
Here is his first column.
Vineyard Wind completed installation of its final turbines in March. Revolution Wind began delivering power to the New England grid the same week.Two major East Coast offshore wind projects reached significant construction milestones within days of each other. Neither had an easy path to get there.
Revolution Wind is a 704 MW project located off Rhode Island and Connecticut. Developed by Ørsted and Skyborn Renewables, the project consists of 65 turbines and is targeting full commercial operation in the second half of 2026. Connecticut DEEP has estimated the project could reduce regional wholesale energy costs by approximately $500 million annually once fully operational.
Vineyard Wind is an approximately 800 MW project off Massachusetts, developed by Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. The project consists of 62 turbines and successfully completed construction after overcoming a turbine blade failure that triggered a months-long repair, inspection, and remediation campaign during 2025.
Both projects faced federal stop-work actions and significant regulatory uncertainty before ultimately resuming construction through successful legal challenges.
Meanwhile, the marine construction work continues.
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock’s Acadia, the $246 million U.S.-built subsea rock installation vessel, has been contracted to perform scour protection work on Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind. Even while policy debates dominated headlines, contractors, vessel operators, and project teams continued executing the work required to move these projects forward.
Looking ahead, Sunrise Wind remains the next major East Coast offshore wind construction campaign. The 924 MW project is currently under construction and is targeting commissioning in the second half of 2027.
For heavy marine contractors, cable-lay specialists, marine construction managers, and offshore wind project teams, Sunrise represents one of the largest active opportunities remaining in the current U.S. offshore wind build cycle.
Beyond Sunrise Wind, however, the near-term East Coast offshore wind pipeline appears considerably less certain.
That’s the question I keep coming back to.
Two projects approaching commercial operation. One major project carrying construction activity through 2027. And a federal permitting environment that remains challenging for new development.
When Sunrise Wind wraps, what fills the next phase of the East Coast offshore wind pipeline?
Photo: Cadeler (Revolution Wind)
