Offshore Wind Sector Generates US Order

Based on a 140m-long European design, the ship will put down protective layers of rock at offshore wind foundations by means of an integral fall pipe system, loading up to 20,000t at a time from US terminals.

The order is an early dividend of US plans for huge investments in offshore renewable energy. Since the vessel will be traded wholly within the US regime, Jones Act stipulations apply, making for the first domestic project of its kind. Contractual owner Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co, headquartered in Houston since the start of the year, is expected to initially work the vessel out of the US east coast on scheduled delivery during the final quarter of 2024.

The deal carries an option on a sistership, to be completed by the Philadelphia yard towards the end of 2025.

The dynamic-positioning, EPA Tier 4-compliant design has been primarily developed by the Dutch arm of Norwegian company Ulstein Design & Solutions. The latter’s recent references in the offshore domain have included a 154m subsea rock installation vessel, the Bravenes, built in China and outfitted in the Netherlands for Van Oord. Ulstein also supplied the main fall pipe deployment system and other equipment.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock is the largest US dredging contractor and the only US firm in the field with substantial overseas operations. Realising opportunities in the USA’s burgeoning offshore wind industry is a key strategic goal for the company. Besides capital investment in fleet additions, this also entails establishing a US rock supply chain network spanning eastern seaboard states with active offshore wind leases.

More than 30 major US offshore wind schemes are forecast to take shape over the next 10 years, promising a massive injection of work and revenues across the country’s marine industries.

The assignment is a considerable boost to Philly’s business diversification strategy, following a long period of concentration on Jones Act tankers and containerships. It augments an orderbook boosted at the beginning of 2021 by third and fourth units of the multi-mission/cadet training ship series placed by Tote Services on behalf of the US Maritime Administration (MARAD). A fifth such newbuild is contemplated.