Dominion Energy has achieved a significant milestone in the U.S. offshore wind industry by launching the country's first Jones Act-compliant offshore wind turbine installation vessel, Charybdis, from land to water. The event, which took place at the Brownsville, Texas shipyard of global marine and offshore engineering group Seatrium, involved the welding of the ship's hull and commissioning of its four legs and related jacking system.
Bob Blue, Dominion Energy's chair, president, and chief executive officer, emphasized the importance of Charybdis, stating, “Charybdis is vital not only to CVOW, but also to the growth of the offshore wind industry along the US east coast and is key to the continued development of a domestic supply chain by providing a homegrown solution for the installation of offshore wind turbines.”
The 472-foot vessel is being constructed using domestically sourced steel and is designed to handle turbine sizes of 12MW or larger. Once complete, the vessel's home port will be in Hampton Roads, Virginia, an offshore wind installation harbor, and it will operate with an American crew.
Chris Ong, Seatrium's chief executive officer, highlighted the significance of the project, stating, “Seatrium's AmFELS shipyard has partnered with Dominion Energy in this ground-breaking project to supply the first US Jones Act-compliant WTIV, Charybdis, playing a critical role in the country's energy transition.”
The vessel's hull and infrastructure were fabricated with more than 14,000 tons of domestic steel, with nearly 10,000 tons sourced from suppliers in Alabama, West Virginia, and North Carolina. The launch of the vessel marked one of the world's largest completed lifts, totaling 23,000 tons.
Additionally, Dominion Energy's Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project received a final construction air permit from the Environmental Protection Agency, allowing offshore monopile installation to begin in May. The CVOW project is expected to contribute significantly to reliable, affordable, and clean energy while creating local job opportunities and fostering growth in the U.S. offshore wind industry.
