Maritime specialists MiNO Marine and 2^nd Wind Marine are coordinating to build two Jones Act-compliant vessels with a new “superfeeder” design capable of transporting next-generation turbine components to US offshore wind project sites.

If they enter commercial service in 2021 as planned, the diesel-electric powered units will offer a lower-cost alternative to “feeder” barges for carrying blades, nacelles and towers from staging ports to foreign-flagged European wind turbine installation vessels (WTIV) moored off the east coast.

MiNO and 2^nd Wind, both based in Louisiana, contend that the fully-dynamic positioning (DP) vessels offer a quick and proven path to aid US offshore wind development.

With the first Jones Act-compliant home-grown WTIV still a few years away, “the time is right for the superfeeder concept”, claimed Joseph Orgeron, business and technology developer for 2^nd Wind Marine.

The design has the house offset asymmetrically to the port side, allowing more bow deck space to accommodate larger vertically-stacked blade racks.

The cargo deck is rated to transport and jack-up 4,000 metric tons, and each vessel is intended to carry a complete next-generation turbine set including blades, tower and nacelle.

A unique crane designed by Germany’s Liebherr will be installed around a jacking leg with an offset-pedestal, giving it full access to lift components from quayside and deposit them in cargo holds.

The partners have engaged US shipyards that are now evaluating the design and preparing construction costs.

By the end of May, the fast-growing US offshore wind sector from Maine to Virginia had committed to procure 29.2GW of offshore wind capacity — almost seven times the amount in 2017. States have contracted for 6.4GW of off-take thus far; New England (3.1GW), Maryland (368MW) New York (1.82GW) and New Jersey (1.1GW).

Project developers have been seeking ways to either comply with or work around Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, better known as the Jones Act, a federal law that regulates maritime commerce in the US.

Jones Act restrictions

The Jones Act requires goods such as wind turbine components conveyed between two US points be transported on ships that are built, owned and operated by American citizens or permanent residents. One such point in the US is defined as an offshore foundation or pad attached to the outer continental shelf.

This means that European-owned jack-up vessels that the nascent US industry must rely upon for early-stage projects cannot load at east coast ports and then transfer or install cargoes at project sites.

Instead, they must remain offshore and be fed by Jones Act-compliant barges or other equipment – a time-consuming process that will add to the already high cost of installing turbines offshore with European vessels, whose owners can charge higher lease rates in the absence of domestic competition.

Wind

New 'superfeeder' vessel aims at Jones Act quick-fix for US offshore wind