Crowley and Esvagt are planning to build a US-flag service operations vessel (SOV) to work on an offshore wind project in Virginia.
The two companies announced a contract to build the ship on Tuesday, with US-based Crowley managing and crewing the ship and Denmark’s Esvagt supporting Crowley with the design, construction, crew training and operation services under the companies’ Crest Wind joint venture.
“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," Crowley Wind Services senior vice president Bob Karl said in a statement.
SOVs serve as housing for technicians working on wind farms, as well as spare part storage.
Crowley said the 289-foot-long ship will be able to accommodate 80 crew members and technicians and feature technology to augment safety, workability and comfort.
The ship will be chartered to Siemens Gamesa, which is building 176 turbines for Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project.
The companies did not say what shipyard would be constructing the vessel.
“This is an important step in the development of a skilled offshore workforce in America,” said Siemens Gamesa’s Americas chief executive.
“This charter will enable us to provide top-tier service for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project with a US-built vessel.”
SOV operator Esvagt and Crowley have been working together on SOVs since announcing a partnership in March 2021. It was one of a few US-Europe joint ventures created in recent years to support the construction of offshore wind farms.
Crowley has pushed forward with offshore wind outside the joint venture, as well, announcing the development of facilities in Massachusetts and California to support wind farm construction.
US utility Dominion Energy intends for its wind farm to provide electricity to as many as 650,000 homes and cut 5m tonnes per year in carbon emissions from power generation.
As part of the project, Dominion is building a $450m wind turbine installation vessel at Keppel AmFELS in Brownsville, Texas.
