USA: Deepwater Wind Selects Turbine Installation Vessel for Block Island Wind Farm

Deepwater Wind announced the selection of industry leader Fred. Olsen Windcarrier to provide the vessel for the turbine installation at the Block Island Wind Farm, a project that remains on track to be among the nation’s first offshore wind farms.

Fred. Olsen Windcarrier’s self-propelled jack-up vessel Bold Tern is one of the world’s most advanced installation vessels.

The contract with Fred. Olsen Windcarrier follows Deepwater Wind’s signing of turbine supply and long-term maintenance agreements with Alstom, which will supply the Block Island Wind Farm with five of Alstom’s 6-megawatt (MW) Haliade 150 offshore wind turbines.

“We are very pleased to add Fred. Olsen Windcarrier to our world-class team for the Block Island Wind Farm,” said Deepwater Wind CEO Jeffrey Grybowski. “The Bold Tern is a class-leading vessel for offshore installation and Fred. Olsen Windcarrier brings deep experience in offshore construction and high standards of excellence to the work they do.”

Fred. Olsen Windcarrier previously installed Alstom’s Haliade 150 turbine in Belgium’s Belwind 1 demonstration.

“We are truly delighted to be installing this significant project which is driving forward the offshore wind industry in the United States. We have already established a very good relationship with the people in the project team at Deepwater Wind and we will once again be working with Alstom to install their impressive 6-MW turbine,” said Ketil Arvesen of Fred. Olsen Windcarrier.