The US announced a target o deploying 30 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 back in 2021. This ambitious goal helped create certainty for developers and the supply chain. The announcement has also unlocked billions of dollars in investments into US communities. While developers welcomed the clear pipeline of offshore wind projects, now comes the difficult part; getting the projects permitted, installed, and operating.

As an emerging market within offshore wind, the US does not have an established supply chain. Currently, the offshore wind industry globally and in the US faces several challenges including persistently high inflation, rising cost of capital, and high demand for foundation and turbine installation vessels. In addition to a lack of available vessels there is another challenge, namely the Jones Act. In short, the Jones Act requires that goods from one American port to another American port be transported on a ship that is American-built, American-owned and crewed by US citizens or permanent residents. This presents a challenge as currently there are no operating US flagged, owned, or manned wind installation vessels.

Enter Maersk Supply Service and its wind installation vessel. This new vessel, entering service in 2025 is 30% more efficient than using conventional jack-up vessels due to the Wind Installation Vessel’s unique feeder capabilities and is Jones Act compliant.

The installation concept combines a new Wind Installation Vessel design with a patented load transfer system that will enable safe transfer of cargo. The concept will utilise two newbuilt tugs and barges to transport wind turbine components out to the installation site, while the Wind Installation Vessel itself will remain on location to carry out successive installations. The tugs and barges will be built and operated in the US by Kirby Offshore Wind, in compliance with The Jones Act. The newbuilt tugs and barges will further create employment opportunities for US citizens – both during the vessel construction phase and the subsequent operations for the developers.

The Wind Installation Vessel is expected to enter US waters in 2025, and as of writing Maersk Supply Service will install the turbines for Equinor and bp’s Empire Wind and Beacon Wind projects.