The project, being spearheaded by the University of Maine, completed testing of its grid-connected 1:8 scale VolturnUS prototype in 25 metres of water late in 2014.
Last week, it was earmarked as one of three schemes in line for almost $40m in US Department of Energy funding, paving the way for construction of its planned two 6MW concrete-composite semi-submersible units.
Along with DCNS and the University of Maine, project partners include UMaine Advanced Structures and Composites Center, Emera and Cianbro.
Habib Dagher, executive director of the UMaine Advanced Structures and Composites Centre, which has led Aqua Ventus, describes it as a "game-changer for floating offshore wind in the US".
