Maersk Supply Service awarded Preferred Supplier Agreement for second US wind contract
Maersk Supply Service is due to install the wind turbines at the Beacon Wind farm off the US East Coast, for a joint venture between Equinor and bp. The installation of Beacon Wind is expected to start in 2028.
In March 2022, Maersk Supply Service ordered a newbuild wind installation vessel (WIV), the first project for which will be the installation of the US wind park, Empire Wind, also by Equinor and bp. This new agreement comes in direct continuation of the previously announced contract for Empire Wind. “With this new agreement, we have secured a stable start for our new Wind Installation Vessel. We are very pleased that Equinor and bp have shown us the trust to extend the award and look forward to future collaboration”, says Chief Commercial Officer at Maersk Supply Service, Jonas Munch Agerskov.
Designed in-house and patented by Maersk Supply Service, the pioneering WIV design works in conjunction with a new feeder methodology, expected to be over 30% more efficient than conventional jack-up vessels. This is due both to the WIV’s unique feeder capabilities and to the fact that the WIV stays on location for the duration of the installation, while only the tugs and barges ferry to and from the coast. This enables the WIV to be deployed solely for the purpose of the turbine installation. The solution is also less weather dependent, enabling installation to continue all year round. These elements will all contribute to improving the efficiency of the operations and to bringing down the levelised costs of offshore wind.
Maersk Supply Service has partnered with Kirby Offshore Wind, a subsidiary of Kirby Corporation, who will construct and operate the feeder barges and tugs in the US, in compliance with the Jones Act. Kirby Offshore Wind will support the Beacon Wind contract further by adding a third barge to the installation spread.