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Rafael Riva, Commercial Manager, LR Offshore wind is set to be a growth area along the US East Coast, and the Biden administration, with its new teams in place, is reversing the delays of the previous Administration.
In early March, Vineyard Wind, a wind project out in the Atlantic south of Massachusetts, saw the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the Federal regulator, complete its review of the project’s Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, a process that had stalled during the waning days of the Trump administration.
Most likely, the 800 mW Vineyard Wind project, a joint venture between Avangrid Renewables, tied to renewables giant Iberdrola, and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) will gain a final approval in the coming months.
LR and NETSCo to develop Jones Act compliant wind turbine installation vessel
Lloyd’s Register North America, Inc. (LR) has signed an agreement for a joint development project (JDP) with Northeast Technical Services Co., Inc. (NETSCo) to design and develop a Jones Act compliant wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV).
The Jones Act, or Merchant Marine Act of 1920, requires any vessel transporting cargo between U.S. ports, or between U.S. ports and offshore facilities, to be built and flagged in the U.S. In 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act which includes an amendment that would enforce Jones Act requirements for all offshore renewable energy production. This means that U.S.-built ships, flagged in the U.S., and manned by U.S. nationals will be required for the installation of wind power plants, and for the supply and service of facilities. In addition to this, last week the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Autho
Lloyd’s Register North America is to work with Northeast Technical Services (NETSCo) to design and develop a Jones Act compliant wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) for the US offshore wind market.
NETSCo engineers and naval architects will be responsible for the concept design of the vessel, which will be focused on meeting the requirements of current developments along the US east coast and Great Lakes.
Another feature of the design is that it will use hull shapes that are common in the US shipbuilding market, therefore ensuring it could be built in shipyards in the country.
Lloyd’s Register will review and evaluate NETSCo’s concept design to ensure the vessel complies with applicable rules and regulations.