America’s offshore wind energy supply chain is marking a major milestone, with the christening of the first-ever American-built, owned, and crewed offshore wind service operations vessel (SOV).
The ECO EDISON vessel, built by Shipbuilder Edison Chouest and operated by Ørsted, will play a key role in enabling domestic energy production and strengthening America’s energy independence.
“The Gulf Coast region is playing a huge role in the growing US offshore wind supply chain, using their decades of experience to deliver more homegrown American energy and serving as one example of Ørsted’s more than US$20 billion of investments into the United States,” said David Hardy, Group EVP and CEO Americas at Ørsted.
“Our team can’t wait to put her in service, with state-of-the-art safety technologies and features to ensure comfort at sea.”
Market milestone
All eyes will be on the new vessel, especially since various media reports including Bloomberg warn that if Donald Trump wins the election in November he will issue an executive order stopping offshore wind development in the country.
Nonetheless, there is plenty of positivity surrounding the newbuild.
ECO EDISON, officially christened at the Port of New Orleans by Jennifer Scalise, will play an integral part of the operation and maintenance of Ørsted and Eversource’s South Fork Wind, Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind projects.
The company is committed to building a new domestic offshore energy supply chain.
ECO EDISON was built by more than 600 workers – across nearly 1 million work hours – at ECO in-house shipyards in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida, with components of the vessel sourced from 34 states, from Alabama to West Virginia.
The state-of-the-art, 262-foot long vessel will serve as a floating, year-round homebase for 60 of the first American offshore wind turbine technicians, who will work at-sea over the life of the windfarms, servicing and maintaining the wind turbines.
It will be powered by two Cat 3512E engines from key supplier, Houston-based Caterpillar Marine, underscoring the vast opportunity offshore wind offers existing American manufacturers and shipyards.
The ECO EDISON’s special-purpose design is focused on passenger safety and comfort, enhanced maneouvrability, extended offshore endurance and reduced emissions.
It includes special features like a “walk to work” motion-compensated gangway that allows technicians to easily and safely access the wind turbines. A smaller, so-called “daughter” craft onboard can be deployed to efficiently maneouvre crew across the windfarms.
