GLDD Signs Contract With Philly Shipyard To Build Subsea Rock Installation Vessel
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) announced November 16 that it has signed a contract with Philly Shipyard Inc. to build the first U.S.-flagged, Jones Act-compliant, inclined fallpipe vessel for subsea rock installation.
The vessel will service America’s growing offshore wind energy industry and help reach the Biden administration’s ambitious goal of 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030.
“This contract, valued at approximately $197 million, marks a milestone for our company, the U.S. offshore wind industry and our nation,” said Lasse Petterson, GLDD president and CEO. “Offshore wind will play a crucial role in helping the U.S. meet its decarbonization and clean energy goals. The unique, technologically advanced vessel we are constructing is an essential step toward building the marine infrastructure required for this new industry, which holds so much promise for our nation economically and environmentally.”
The vessel will be U.S.-owned, U.S.-built, U.S.-operated and crewed by American union workers, and it will meet all conditions of the Jones Act. It will transport and strategically deposit loads of rock on the seabed, laying scour protection for offshore wind farm foundations, cables and other structures.
The ship will have an overall length of 461 feet and a breadth of 112 feet.
Further, the vessel is expected to help spur additional job growth and regional economic opportunities through the creation of a U.S.-based rock supply chain network, which will be needed to supply subsea rock installation activities from quarries in states along the East Coast, GLDD said.
“World-renowned engineering firm Ulstein Design & Solutions B.V. was commissioned by the company to design the vessel using state-of-the-art technology, equipment and automation,” said Eleni Beyko, GLDD senior vice president-offshore wind. “The design was reviewed and approved by the American Bureau of Shipping and will be built with best-in-class safety and low emissions standards, EPA Tier 4 engines and plug-in capability to obtain power from shore while loading.
“The vessel will be able to run on biofuel, which reduces the ship’s CO2 footprint, and it will be equipped with advanced active emissions control technology to reduce NOx emissions to a minimum. The installed battery pack will shave peak loads to reduce fuel consumption and corresponding emissions. The vessel is expected to be sea-ready by Q4 2024, to coincide with major offshore wind project construction timelines previously announced.”
With more than 130 years’ experience and expertise in dredging, marine engineering, specialized vessel design and safe offshore operations, GLDD believes it is optimally positioned to make the business pivot into the offshore wind energy industry, the announcement said.
