US-based WINDEA CTV LLC has started construction of its first three 30-metre hybrid-ready crew transfer vessels (CTVs) for the emerging US offshore wind market.
Two of the Incat Crowther-designed CTVs will be constructed at St. Johns Shipyard in Palatka, Florida and one will be built at Gulf Craft in Franklin, Louisiana.
The CTVs are scheduled to be delivered in 2023 and will go immediately into service for GE Renewables.
The vessels will first operate out of New Bedford, MA, during the Vineyard Wind I construction period.
“In collaboration with our operating partner Hornblower we are pleased to be working with Incat Crowther and the shipyards to construct the first vessels of our CTV fleet in the US. These three CTVs represent the first wave of our fleet which we have been developing since 2019 with our Euorpean partners,” said Bradley Neuberth , Managing Partner of WINDEA CTV LLC and owner of MidOcean Wind.
The 806 MW Vineyard Wind I offshore wind farm, developed by a joint venture between Iberdrola-owned Avangrid Renewables and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), entered construction in November 2021.
The wind farm, located 15 miles (some 24 kilometres) off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, will feature 62 GE Haliade-X 13 MW turbines and is expected to deliver its first power to the grid in 2023.
WINDEA CTV is part of the WINDEA Offshore USA consortium that provides a full set of services for construction support and operations and maintenance (O&M) activities.
The company’s fleet is owned and operated by MidOcean Wind LLC and Hornblower Wind, LLC., with technical and operational support from WINDEA Offshore shareholder Ems Maritime Offshore GmbH.