Maersk Supply Service awarded Preferred Supplier Agreement for second U.S. wind contract for its Wind Installation Vessel
Maersk Supply Service is due to install the wind turbines at the Beacon Wind farm off the U.S. East Coast, for a joint venture between Equinor and bp. The installation of Beacon Wind is expected to start in 2028.
In March 2022, Maersk Supply Service ordered a newbuild Wind Installation Vessel (WIV), the first project for which will be the installation of the U.S. wind park, Empire Wind, also by Equinor and bp. This new agreement comes in direct continuation of the previously announced contract for Empire Wind.
“With this new agreement, we have secured a stable start for our new Wind Installation Vessel. We are very pleased that Equinor and bp have shown us the trust to extend the award and look forward to future collaboration,” says Chief Commercial Officer at Maersk Supply Service Jonas Munch Agerskov.
Designed in-house and patented by Maersk Supply Service, the pioneering WIV design works in conjunction with a new feeder methodology, expected to be over 30% more efficient than conventional jack-up vessels.
This is due both to the WIV’s unique feeder capabilities and to the fact that the WIV stays on location for the duration of the installation, while only the tugs and barges ferry to and from the coast.
This enables the WIV to be deployed solely for the purpose of the turbine installation. The solution is also less weather-dependent, enabling the installation to continue all year round. These elements will all contribute to improving the efficiency of the operations and to bringing down the levelised costs of offshore wind.
Maersk Supply Service has partnered with Kirby Offshore Wind, a subsidiary of Kirby Corporation, who will construct and operate the feeder barges and tugs in the U.S., in compliance with the Jones Act. Kirby Offshore Wind will support the Beacon Wind contract further by adding a third barge to the installation spread.
About Maersk Supply Service
Maersk Supply Service is a leading provider of marine services and project solutions for offshore energy sectors. With a large fleet of anchor handling and subsea support vessels, the company specializes in towing, mooring, and installing floating units.
Maersk Supply Service is committed to decarbonizing its fleet and focuses on energy efficiency and ocean health. The company is expanding into renewable industries such as floating wind and ocean cleaning.
Maersk Supply Service, as a subsidiary of A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S, employs around 1100 offshore and 220 onshore staff. Headquartered in Lyngby, Denmark, the company has a global presence in Angola, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Mexico, Norway, the Philippines, and the UK.
For more information, visit www.maersksupplyservice.com
For more information on Beacon Wind, visit www.beaconwind.com
About Kirby
Kirby Corporation, based in Houston, Texas, is the nation’s largest domestic tank barge operator transporting bulk liquid products throughout the Mississippi River System, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and coastwise along all three United States coasts.
Kirby transports petrochemicals, black oil, refined petroleum products, and agricultural chemicals by tank barge. In addition, Kirby participates in the transportation of dry-bulk commodities in the United States coastwise trade.
Through the distribution and services segment, Kirby provides after-market service and genuine replacement parts for engines, transmissions, reduction gears, electric motors, drives, and controls, specialized electrical distribution and control systems, energy storage battery systems, and related equipment used in oilfield services, marine, power generation, on-highway, and other industrial applications.
Kirby also rents equipment including generators, industrial compressors, high-capacity lift trucks, and refrigeration trailers for use in a variety of industrial markets.
For the oil and gas market, Kirby manufactures and remanufactures oilfield service equipment, including pressure pumping units, and manufactures electric power generation equipment, specialized electrical distribution and control equipment, and high-capacity energy storage/battery systems for oilfield customers.
