The first American-made service operations vessel (SOV) will soon enter service for Edison Chouest Offshore, signaling a major milestone for the U.S. maritime industry’s increasing involvement in offshore wind.
Edison Chouest shipyards across the Gulf of Mexico helped build the 262-foot ECO Edison, which will serve as a floating “home base” for up to 60 offshore wind technicians tasked with servicing and maintaining these massive turbines.
The ship was christened in New Orleans in May and will soon enter service. As of mid-June, AIS data showed the ship had arrived in Providence, R.I.
At least initially, ECO Edison will support Orsted’s offshore wind projects Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind, both in various stages of development. It also will support the fully operational South Fork Wind located east of Montauk, N.Y., where 12 turbines are generating enough power for about 70,000 homes.
“The Gulf Coast region is playing a huge role in the growing U.S. offshore wind supply chain, using their decades of experience to deliver more homegrown American energy,” said David Hardy, Orsted’s group executive vice president and CEO for the Americas, said in a prepared statement.
“Thank you to Edison Chouest for delivering this milestone,” he continued. “Our team can’t wait to put her in service.”
ECO Edison is powered by Tier 4 Caterpillar 3512E engines. Additional details on the propulsion package were not available.
The ship is outfitted with a motion-activated gangway that allows technicians to walk directly from the ship onto the wind turbines. The ship also has a smaller “daughter craft” that can be launched to carry technicians to different points within the wind farm.
“We’re incredibly proud that our shipyards, engineers and more than 600 shipbuilders have now delivered a U.S.-first vessel that will support offshore wind energy for years to come for our trusted partners at Orsted,” Gary Chouest, president of Edison Chouest Offshore, said in a prepared statement.
“Just as several of our vessels supported the construction of the first utility-scale offshore wind farm, South Fork Wind Farm,” he continued, “so too will the ECO Edison lead the way as this first-ever American-made offshore wind SOV.”