The Atlantic Endeavor crew transfer vessel (CTV), owned and operated by Atlantic Wind Transfers, America’s first CTV operator, recently was delivered to support Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) pilot wind farm.
Pioneering next-generation vessel designer Chartwell Marine, headquartered in the United Kingdom, oversaw the vessel’s construction despite travel restrictions from the coronavirus pandemic. Chartwell Marine used data-driven analytics to foster an open and collaborative process with Atlantic Wind Transfers and U.S. commercial boat builder Blount Boats & Shipyard in Rhode Island.
With several gigawatts of offshore wind capacity to be installed the next few years, the U.S. offshore wind sector must rapidly build out its maritime supply chain to ensure new projects can be constructed, operated, and maintained effectively. Atlantic Wind Transfers selected the versatile Chartwell Marine design, which can keep pace as project requirements change. The vessel will enable AWT to continue setting a reference point for effective crew transfer operations in the U.S., offering high standards of comfort and reliability for technicians working on offshore turbines.
AWT also opted to equip the vessel with advanced surveying equipment to prepare for future operations in the region, supporting wind-farm owners and operators such as Dominion Energy, as additional generation capacity comes online. The U.S. East Coast will require diverse operational profiles and versatile fleets, and flexible vessel platforms will be a cornerstone for building these vessels.
“Even with the pandemic, international collaboration to build out an innovative U.S. CTV fleet has continued,” said Andy Page, managing director of Chartwell Marine. “We’ve been proud to continue working remotely with Blount to deliver a vessel to AWT’s specifications, a testament to the yard’s adaptability. As U.S. offshore wind continues to grow, it will be crucial to ensure a strong blueprint for a sustainable future is laid using reliable, trusted vessel designs.”
“This is our second CTV entering into service, and Chartwell Marine has been a responsive partner throughout the design and build process, adapting its proven vessel formula to ensure we continue to provide the highest levels of service for our current and future clients,” said Charles Donadio, CEO of Atlantic Wind Transfers. “The Chartwell 24 has set the benchmark for effective vessel performance in the U.S., and we look forward to continue working with Chartwell on improvements to future designs as the U.S. East Coast offshore wind farms build out.”
“Safety and reliability are top priorities for Dominion Energy, and AWT has a proven track record in the U.S. of delivering on these priorities,” said Joshua Bennett, Vice President of Offshore Wind, Dominion Energy. “As the owner and operator of the first offshore wind farm in U.S. federal waters, we take our responsibility to meet and exceed established global standards in crew transfer operations very seriously.”
“Maturing the offshore wind industry’s logistics solutions is a key part of making offshore wind in the U.S. a success,” said James Saunders, offshore operations manager for Siemens Gamesa. “We look forward to working with AWT and Dominion Energy to help realize the industry’s goals.”
AWT’s Atlantic Endeavor joins the Atlantic Pioneer, the first CTV to be launched in the U.S market, which has serviced the Block Island Wind Farm since 2016 through construction and now long-term O&M.
More info www.atlanticwindtransfers.com
