Page 39: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2022)

SHIPBUILDING

American Bureau of Shipping A Close Focus on Wind

Left to Right:

Wei Huang,

Director of Global Vessel

Market Sector

Keegan Plaskon, Director,

North American Reg. Business

Development, Offshore

Vessels

Elizabeth Kretovic, Director,

Offshore Wind Business

Development,

North America

Photos courtesy ABS was asked for its per- • OSW support vessels will lead ? nancing the larger CAPEX vessels”

ABS spectives on the pacing the adoption of alternative fuel supply to see where public/private partner- of US wind projects and about the resources. This should complement ships can best help.

metrics that indicate the heft and mo- other maritime and transportation Plaskon said that if OSW vessels mentum required to meet new energy needs, moves that, Wei said, could moved to low carbon operations this deadlines. “further encourage decarbonization, could “impact across the full lifecycle

Wei Huang,ABS Director of leveraging and maximizing the utiliza- of an OSW project.” He said ABS is

Global Vessel Market Sector, said tion of existing infrastructure – a win/ using new analytics now to measure the U.S. shipyard market has demon- win transcending maritime markets.” and report on complete carbon impacts strated strength and capability. “We With reference to vessels and ship- and preparing that data for federal are underway,” she said, “building yards Wei mentioned the following reporting.

the smallest crew transport vessels projects as important indicators of sup- Workforce is another metric. “We (CTVs) up to the largest with a wind ply chain build out: are tracking a number of key initia- turbine installation vessel (WTIV) • Great Lake Dredge & Dock’s con- tives that States are driving in coordi- with ABS supporting Class across all tract with Philly Shipyard for a subsea nation with Federal government agen- vessel sizes.” She noted challenges, rock installation vessel; cies,” said Elizabeth Kretovic, ABS including availability of certain vessel • Edison Chouest Offshore’s service Director, Offshore Wind Business construction materials and long lead operation vessel; Development, North America. These times for machinery components. • Keppel AmFels’ Charybdis con- include tax incentives to support wind

Domestic production incentives may struction; component manufacturing, port en- help. She suggested that the creation • Two new feeder barges and two hancements as well as workforce de- of regional economic hubs for vessel diesel-electric hybrid tugboat units by velopment through labor agreements construction, retro? t and maintenance Kirby Offshore Wind for Equinor and and university partnerships. Kretovic near wind energy areas “may focus bp’s New York projects. noted that several U.S. maritime train- overall system maturity faster in the ing facilities are now members of the early adoption of clean or alternative ABS Class Global Wind Organization (GWO). fueling infrastructure.” ABS was asked about US DOE’s She said this will ensure “training is

Wei cited other big picture issues: new Federal-State partnership: the in place in time for construction to • Concerns about a limited pool right move? Why? Keegan Plaskon commence offshore.” Kretovic noted of US-licensed, -quali? ed, and -eli- is ABS Director, North American further that project developers and en- gible offshore mariners, which may be Regional Business Development, gineering and procurement contractors compounded because the US market Offshore Vessels. He said that due are establishing wind-related univer- will compete with rebounding global to vessel costs in the $550-$600+ sity internships. “All these initiatives,” operations. One idea: promotion of million range, and the construction Kretovic commented, “are coming

OSW programs that enable hybrid time required “the project commit- together not only to lower costs but certi? cations for mariners from alterna- ment is critical before securing such to establish an industry and associ- tive branches of the industry (such as investment with a suf? cient chartering ated supply chain based on safety and veterans and ? sheries) may alleviate payback pipeline.” He said next steps minimizing risk.” mid-term pressure. are de? ning “some of the key risks in – By Tom Ewing www.marinelink.com 39

MR #8 (34-49).indd 39 8/1/2022 2:47:39 PM