Van Oord’s offshore installation vessel, Aeolus, has achieved a significant milestone by successfully installing the initial turbine at the South Fork offshore wind farm in the United States. This 132MW project stands as New York’s pioneer offshore wind initiative, representing a collaboration between Orsted and Eversource in a 50-50 joint venture partnership.
Selected by the partnership, Van Oord is responsible for the transportation and installation of wind turbine generators at the South Fork location. Aeolus, having recently undergone a substantial crane upgrade that includes a new, extended boom, now boasts a 133-meter reach. This enhancement equips the vessel to handle the latest generation of turbines for offshore wind projects.
The installation efforts at the South Fork Wind farm will see support from a fleet of American vessels, comprising barges, tugs, and other crucial support vessels. Crowley, Van Oord’s US partner, will utilize its US-flagged barge, Ocean Class tug, and Alert Class ship assist tug to transport the necessary hardware from State Pier in New London, Connecticut, to the designated offshore project site.
A noteworthy aspect of the project is the involvement of New York union workers, contributing to the wind turbine installation process under the National Offshore Wind Agreement. This agreement serves as a project labor agreement between Orsted, Eversource, and North America’s Building Trades Unions, ensuring collaborative and standardized efforts in advancing offshore wind initiatives.
This development signals a pivotal moment for New York’s renewable energy landscape and reinforces the region’s commitment to harnessing the potential of offshore wind for sustainable power generation.
