Page 29: of Marine News Magazine (October 2016)

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OFFSHORE ENERGY application reaching completion after seven years of plan-

Offshore Wind: American Style ning. The projected cost of the electricity generated for the

The offshore wind industry in the United States can cre- island is far from competitive at this point in its develop- ate American jobs in the maritime industry. In this case, ment and the farm still faces a mixed opinion of support.

however, the Deepwater Wind towers were installed by

Despite early promises that the farm would be located the Fred Olsen Windcarrier’s wind farm installation vessel far offshore its current resting place is clearly visible from Brave Tern that arrived in Rhode Island in late July. The the shores of Block Island and from Point Judith on the 433-foot long jack-up vessel traveled to Rhode Island from mainland. Recent complaints stem from the United States Europe, with the ? ve GE Renewable Energy nacelles for

Coast Guard and Federal Aviation Administration naviga- the Block Island Wind Farm aboard. This is one of the tion requirements lighting the wind farm at night. A series world’s advanced installation vessels, with cranes capable of ? ashing and blinking lights are now permanent ? xtures of lifting 800 tons, and a self-propelled jack-up system al- in what was once a serene, coastal environment. Hence, lowing the ship to reach a height of roughly 480 during in- onshore or offshore, oil or clean energy, the NIMBY or stallation. That’s not to say there wasn’t U.S. involvement. “not in my backyard” is still an issue.

There was.

The offshore lease has now been extended to eighteen

Assisting with the installation, the liftboats Paul and (18) towers and turbines. And extension of the test project Caitlyn, heavy-lift vessels from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico (now labeled Deepwater One) has the ability to grow to (operated by Montco Offshore) were capable of meeting two hundred turbines in the near future. The power gener-

U.S ? ag Jones Act requirements to shuttle turbine com- ation is projected to serve parts of New England and Long ponents from the Port of Providence to the Block Island

Island, New York reaching in excess of 1000 megawatts. construction site. www.marinelink.com 29

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