The DEME Group reports that its DEME Offshore US subsidiary has been awarded a contract for the transportation and installation of inter-array cables for the Empire Wind 1 and 2 offshore wind farms. DEME advises that under the contract it will be responsible for the transport and installation of the inter-array cables, which have a total length of over 350 kilometers (217 miles). The installation works will be performed by a cable installation vessel from the DEME fleet in two campaigns. Currently the company operates the state-of-the-art cable installation vessel M/V Living Stone and this will be joined by a second DP3 cable installation vessel M/V
Viking Neptun soon.
Empire Wind 1 and 2 are being developed by a 50-50 partnership between Equinor and BP. Equinor will be the operator through the development, construction, and operations phases of the projects. Equinor has awarded DEME Offshore US these two exceptional projects,” Sid Florey, president, DEME Offshore US noted. “DEME’s excellent track record and ability to successfully execute large-scale cable projects safely and efficiently, combined with our robust technical solution for the Empire Wind projects, are the key factors for our success with the award of this contract.” Apparently the cable laying will be run out of its Boston office, but it is unclear where the vessels will call their home port for this phase of the growth of the US offshore wind market. It is estimated that, once constructed, Empire Wind 1 and 2 will have a total installed capacity of more than 2 GW and will power more than 1 million New York homes.
At Hofmann & Schweitzer, we will continue to update you on the status of where and when these excellent construction and maritime job opportunities in the wind energy development field will occur. We will be there for the needs of labor if you or your loved one is injured, which can be disastrous to your family.