The sea trials have commenced and are in progress for Charybdis , the first Jones Act-compliant wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV), built in the US.
Under construction at Seatrium’s AmFELS shipyard in Brownsville, Texas, the vessel also recently completed the jacking trial and main crane load testing.
Commissioned by Dominion Energy, the vessel is 96 per complete and complies with US Jones Act regulations, allowing it to operate in US waters for domestic offshore wind projects.
According to Seatrium, Charybdis remains on schedule to be delivered and support Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project later this year after vessel preparation works, including grillage installation works, are completed.
With a length of 472 feet (approx. 144 metres), a width of 184 feet (about 56 metres), and a depth of 38 feet (approx. 12 metres), it is equipped with a 426-foot (about 130 metres) crane capable of lifting up to 2,200 tonnes, and an accommodation capacity of up to 119 people.
The WTIV, launched in April 2024, is designed to handle current and next-generation wind turbines up to 12 MW or larger.
Once delivered, Charybdis will sail away to the CVOW project site, located some 43 kilometres off the coast of Virginia Beach, where it will be installing the wind turbines.
The 2.6 GW project will feature 176 Siemens Gamesa 14 MW wind turbines and will become the biggest US offshore wind farm once in operation.