Page 24: of Marine News Magazine (November 2021)

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Offshore Wind industry. Working together, offshore panies are already taking steps to build U.S. laws apply to renewable energy wind developers and U.S. maritime a solid foundation for moving offshore development on the Outer Continen- companies can seize this moment to wind forward in the United States. tal Shelf. Crucially, “all U.S. laws” in- create the next great American indus- So how do we spur investment in cludes the Jones Act, which will help try, sustained by a made-in-America the ? eet of vessels that will be necessary ensure that this energy source and the supply chain that will help ensure to support all phases of the offshore supply chain facilitating its delivery the reliability of this emergent energy wind project lifecycle—surveying and remains reliable and secure.

source for the long-term. site preparation, development and The applicability of the Jones Act

American maritime is ready, willing construction, operations and mainte- should send a strong signal that delay- and able to produce the vessels that nance, and eventual decommissioning? ing serious conversations with Ameri- will be needed to service this market, There are four key steps that need can maritime companies, in the hope and help create an environment that to be taken to accelerate this process. that a Jones Act waiver is on the hori- makes such investments viable. From First, American offshore wind and zon that will allow the purchase of a historic investments in the ? rst Jones maritime need to mutually under- cheaper vessel from a foreign provider,

Act-compliant wind turbine instal- stand and acknowledge the ground is not a viable option. Offshore wind lation vessel, to special operations rules. In the case of offshore wind ves- developers need to act now to use the vessels, crew transfer vessels, feeder sels, Congress has spoken—as recent- available lead time to talk speci? cs with barges, and port and workforce devel- ly as January 1—with legislation clari- American companies, or risk ? nding opment partnerships, American com- fying that the Constitution and all themselves in a situation where they cannot procure the vessels they need because they waited on a Jones Act waiver that is unavailing by law.

Second, to stimulate supply, we have to focus on demand. It’s not sur- prising that we do not have a ? eet of vessels sitting on the proverbial shelf waiting to do everything that needs to be done, because we are creating a new market in this country. The off- shore wind industry has already done important preliminary work in identi- fying the types and rough quantity of vessels necessary – the next step is for wind developers and U.S. maritime companies to come together and talk speci? cs: Here’s what I need; Here’s when I need it; How can you help me do this as safely, ef? ciently, and cost- effectively as possible?

Those conversations are happening now and need to continue, because eight- and nine-? gure investment de- cisions generally are not made based 24 | MN November 2021