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SHIPBUILDING construction vessels. D’Isernia commented: “We are ready to- day to support design and construction of large offshore wind vessels, and we look forward to supporting vessel operators with high quality assets.”

On the workforce side ESG launched an initiative to pro- mote workforce development, recruitment, and retention. We seek “a long-term sustainable environment for the personal and professional growth of our employees,” D’Isernia said.

Additionally, ESG has supported start-up and funding for 12

CTE (Career Technical Education) programs to establish a steady pipeline of new shipbuilders.”

Marcia Blount, President of Blount Boats based in Warren,

RI. Blount Boats built the ? rst OSW vessel – Atlantic Pioneer – in 2016 and a second boat, the Endeavor in 2021.

Blount sees a bright future in OSW, and today has four

CTVs under contract. The company seeks to build at least three per year for the next ? ve years, hopefully longer. Her company seeks contracts in all wind energy regions.

In an interview, Blount said safety and fuel ef? ciency are critical features for CTVs. Employees have to move safely, in high seas, from the vessel to a worksite. She is taking a close look at MARAD’s recent announcement that would designate

Photo courtesy NJ Wind Institue Development

OSW vessels as “vessels of national interest.”

New Jersey is undertaking a

Policy: Building the Market

There was big news on the public sector side the same day series of concurrent activities as the Crowley-ESVAGT announcement: DOE announced a to advance OSW, particularly new Federal-State Offshore Wind Partnership, establishing an extensive set of initiatives to deliver on President Biden’s goal in education and workforce of 30 GW of OSW by 2030. The Partnership includes: • A new federal-state agreement with eleven east coast development.

states to take on regional issues such as transmission, in-

Jen Becker, terconnection, ? shing and workforce.

• Advancing the “National Offshore Wind Supply

NJ’s Managing Director,

Chain Roadmap.” DOE plans a July workshop for stake-

Wind Institute Development holders to help develop the Roadmap, due for release later this year.

• Priority ? nancing for OSW vessels. MARAD will the recent discussions and ideas that emerged at the Interna- designate OSW vessels as “Vessels of National Interest,” tional Offshore Wind Partnering Forum (IPF), in April, in which gives priority to OSW vessel funding applications. New Jersey. The Forum was hosted by the Business Network

This designation will help US shipyards modernize and for Offshore Wind and as one indicator the Forum itself testi- help shipowners with new or retro? t vessel projects. ? es to momentum in OSW. Consider: attendance in 2021 was

MARAD was asked about program scope, i.e., will it in- 1500. This year almost 3,000 attended from nearly 800 busi- clude all vessels? A spokesperson replied that, yes, “all ves- nesses and 25 countries. Speakers included NJ Governor Phil sels which are primarily constructed or reconstructed for use Murphy, US DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm and BOEM’s in the construction, service, or maintenance of wind farm fa- Director Amanda Lefton.

cilities. It is intentionally broad and includes costs for con- A key Forum message: public-private partnerships are criti- struction of new vessels as well the costs for modi? cation or cal to advance OSW and renewable energy. One Forum take- reconstruction of existing vessels to convert them for use in away: policymakers need to keep their attention on creating the wind farm facilities.” conditions necessary to bolster OSW; public policy and grants

It’s worth noting the alignment between DOE’s efforts and are vital to leverage private OSW investments. DOE’s and www.marinelink.com 37

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