Denmark’s Maersk Supply Service (MSS) has revealed a second job for its planned new ‘feeder’ wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV).
The newbuilding, due in 2025, will install turbines at Equinor and BP’s Beacon Wind project off the US east coast from 2028.
The ship was ordered at Sembcorp Marine in Singapore in March, and was immediately awarded an installation job at the oil companies’ Empire Wind I and II sites in the US in the “mid-2020s”.
The latest deal will be in direct continuation from this contract, which involves Vestas V236-15 MW turbines.
“We are very pleased that Equinor and BP have shown us the trust to extend the award and look forward to future collaboration,” said MSS chief commercial officer Jonas Munch Agerskov.
MSS, part of giant shipowning group AP Moller-Maersk, has partnered with Kirby Offshore Wind, owned by Kirby Corp, which will construct and operate feeder barges and tugs for the projects.
Kirby will now add a third barge for the Beacon Wind deal.
The March order marked anchor-handling tug supply owner MSS’ entry into the wind sector.
The company said it has been working on the concept since 2019.
The WTIV will be 30% more efficient than using conventional jack-up units.
The new concept involves a patented load transfer system.
The companies will use two new tugs and barges to transport wind turbine components out to the installation site, while the WTIV will remain at sea to carry out installations.
