ABS to class first-ever Jones Act-compliant wind turbine installation vessel

Currently under construction at Keppel AmFELS yard in Texas, the 472-feet vessel is designed by GustoMSC to handle wind turbine sizes of 12 megawatt or larger and will be capable of the installation of foundations for turbines and other heavy lifts.

The WTIV, to be named Charybdis, will have accommodation for up to 119 crew and wind farm technicians.

Related: US Offshore Wind – Jones Act installation vessel on the way

“Our extensive knowledge of US regulations combined with offshore industry leadership means we are uniquely equipped to support this project and a range of other innovative vessels now being commissioned for US wind farms,” said Matt Tremblay, ABS senior vice president, global offshore.

The WTIV Charybdis is just the latest vessel for the US offshore wind industry to be supported by ABS. The first US-flagged Jones Act offshore wind farm service operation vessel (SOV) ever ordered will be built to ABS class. ABS has also issued approval-in-principle for two Jones Act offshore wind farm SOV to Vard and for a series of other wind support vessels from European designers.

Blair Ainslie, chief executive of Seajacks, operator of Charybdis, said: “This next-generation turbine installation jack-up vessel is vital to the safe and cost-effective deployment of offshore wind energy in the US. Seajacks operates a fleet of offshore installation jack-ups in Europe and Asia and is looking forward to developing the offshore wind supply chain in the US with our partners.”