Vineyard Wind recently announced that cable installation for the first commercial scale offshore wind farm has begun approximately 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard. The company also announced it expects to begin nearshore cable work off the south coast of Cape Cod in the coming days.
The work is being conducted by Prysmian Group, the global leader in subsea cable manufacturing and installation. Prysmian recently announced plans to build the first U.S.-based offshore wind subsea cable factory in Somerset, Massachusetts, adding to its strong North American footprint that includes 28 manufacturing facilities.
“For a project that has achieved many firsts, the beginning of offshore cable installation is perhaps the most significant we have achieved so far,” said Vineyard Wind CEO Klaus S. Moeller. “To get to this point has required an amazing effort by the Vineyard Wind team, and we are proud to work with Prysmian, a company with world class experience dedicated to creating jobs in Massachusetts. I want to thank all the local, state, and federal government agencies, which have been essential in thoroughly reviewing this project over the past five years and allowing us to reach this milestone.”
“Prysmian is proud to contribute to this important project that will accelerate the United States towards the energy transition,” said Hakan Ozmen, EVP Projects, Prysmian Group. “Leveraging state-of-the-art technology, large production, and installation assets, our cable laying operations are in line with the industry’s regulatory and environmental standards. Across our wide North American footprint, Prysmian plays a key role in the development and upgrade of power grid infrastructures to support the transition to renewable energy sources in the U.S.”
Prysmian is being supported by Foss Maritime, a U.S.-based, unionized maritime service company. The firm’s Nicole Foss will assist with both the offshore and nearshore work in the coming weeks.
“Foss is extremely pleased to be part of the Vineyard Wind export cable installation program,” said Joel Whitman, president of Foss Offshore Wind. “As a U.S. company, we are particularly proud to be involved in this milestone project for the U.S. Offshore Wind industry.”
The fully Jones Act compliant cable installation process permits the use of both U.S. and specialized European flagged vessels that work together. Fishing vessel Fleet King, which is being provide by Sea Services, is working alongside the Cable Enterprise to ensure good communication with fishermen and other mariners in the area.
“We are thrilled to continue our relationship with Vineyard Wind, who has committed to using local commercial fishermen to provide safety vessels for the construction phase of the nation’s first commercial scale offshore wind farm,” said Sea Services CEO Gordon Videll.
In the coming weeks, Vineyard Wind will also begin nearshore at Covell’s Beach in Barnstable and will also employ fishing vessels to facilitate good communication with other local fishermen.
Cable installation is scheduled for the fall of 2022 as well as early 2023. Mariners can sign up for updates at www.vineyardwind.com/fisheries, which can be sent out via email or text.
Vineyard Wind is committed to local supply chain and workforce and advancing the use of U.S.-flagged vessels on the project. In total, 52 U.S.-flagged vessels have or will have worked on the project by the end of this year.
Vineyard Wind, an 800-MW project 15 miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, will generate electricity for more than 400,000 homes and businesses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, create 3,600 full-time-equivalent (FTE) job years, save customers $1.4 billion over the first 20 years of operation, and is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 1.6 million metric tons per year, the equivalent of taking 325,000 cars off the road annually.
Vineyard Wind will begin delivering clean energy to Massachusetts in 2023.
More info www.vineyardwind.com
