Equinor, BP book innovative Maersk newbuild for 2 GW of US wind projects

An innovative newbuild vessel of Maersk Supply Service has been contracted to install the Empire Wind 1 and 2 offshore wind farms in the US, which are being developed by a joint venture between Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR) and BP Plc (LON:BP), the parties announced today.

“In signing this contract with Equinor and BP, we are ready to invest in Maersk Supply Service’s first Wind Installation Vessel and firmly establish Maersk Supply Service as an offshore wind contractor,” stated Steen S Karstensen, chief executive of Maersk Supply Service, a subsidiary of Danish shipping group AP Moller-Maersk A/S (CPH:MAERSK).

The vessel will be the first of its kind, based on a concept that will use two newbuilt tugs and barges to carry wind turbine components to the installation site, while the vessel will remain on location to continue installations. The barges and tugs will be built and operated by Kirby Offshore Wind, a subsidiary of Kirby Corp (NYSE:KEX).

Maersk Supply Service said its new feeder solution is less weather dependent and enables more efficient installation, which will help to reduce the levelised costs of offshore wind.

With a steel-cutting ceremony due in the final quarter this year, the wind installation vessel will be constructed in Singapore by SembCorp Marine Ltd (SGX:S51). It is expected to be delivered in US waters in 2025.

The ship will install Vestas V236-15MW turbines at the 816-MW Empire Wind 1 and the 1,260-MW Empire 2 wind farms, which are expected to generate enough power for more than 1 million New York homes.

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