US-based maritime player Crowley and Danish offshore shipping firm Esvagt plan to jointly construct and operate a service operations vessel (SOV) for the Dominion Energy wind farm project off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia, US.
Crowley will manage and crew the vessel as part of the contract.
Esvagt will support Crowley with the design, operation services, construction and crew training under a joint venture, called CREST Wind, which was formed in 2021.
This marks Esvagt’s first offshore wind contract in the US.
CREST Wind will charter the vessel to Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy to support the latter’s service operations on the wind project, which is expected to produce enough renewable energy to power up to 660,000 households.
Esvagt chief strategy and commercial officer Soren Karas said: “This first contract in the US is a landmark event for Esvagt in our quest to help drive the green transition as a global leader of SOV services.
“We are excited to bring our decades of offshore wind experience to bear in a new market through our CREST JV with the premier Jones Act operator, Crowley.”
With a length of 288.7ft and breadth of 57.7ft, the SOV will have the capacity to accommodate 80 crew and technicians.
It will be equipped with the latest technologies for increasing safety and workability, as well as facilitating the operations and maintenance (O&M) activities of the wind farm project.
Furthermore, it will feature fitness facilities, a games room and a cinema to provide recreational activities for on-board personnel.
The ship will have a maximum draught of 20.3ft and is expected to be operational from 2026.
Crowley Wind Services senior vice-president and general manager Bob Karl stated: “This vessel marks another significant milestone in our overarching, combined capabilities to help develop, construct and serve the US offshore wind market and America’s clean, renewable energy needs.”
