(PALATKA, Fla.) — St. Johns Ship Building has delivered WINDEA Courageous, the first of three Jones Act-compliant Incat Crowther crew transfer vessels (CTVs) ordered by WINDEA CTV LLC, a partnership of Hornblower Wind and MidOcean Wind.
The new 98-foot (30-meter) vessel will enter service supporting Vineyard Wind 1 and is already on site in New Bedford, Mass., for the project.
The construction of this series of Incat-designed vessels signals the official launch of St. Johns Ship Building’s new focus on high-speed aluminum vessels. The groundwork for supporting the construction of Jones Act-compliant CTVs was laid more than two years ago through multiple facility modifications and the acquisition of new production equipment such as the installation of a CNC router for processing of non-ferrous metals and composite materials.
“This delivery marks a proud moment of validation,” said Ed Sheets, executive vice president and director of business strategy for Americraft Marine Group, the parent company of St. Johns Ship Building. “The WINDEA Courageous is a statement vessel for St. Johns Ship Building and marks the first measurable accomplishment in what has been a two-year effort to convert the facility and its many talented and hard-working personnel from a history in building primarily steel vessels, to constructing advanced design, high-speed aluminum vessels.”
“St. Johns Ship Building achieved a significant milestone with the successful construction and delivery of this WINDEA CTV LLC crew transfer vessel,” said Junior Volpe, senior vice president of vessel construction and repair at Hornblower Group. “Their dedicated efforts and expertise ensured the completion of the project with precision and adherence to quality standards.”
St. Johns Ship Building specializes in the new construction and repair of a wide variety of steel and aluminum vessels, including crew vessels, ferries, tugs, deck and tank barges, landing crafts, and general cargo vessels. It is also one of the few U.S. shipyards that is currently building vessels that support and service offshore wind farms.
– St. Johns Shipbuilding
