ABS report highlights US offshore wind vessel design, safety regulations

Offshore staff

HOUSTON – Responding to industry demand for insight into specific operational requirements for the US offshore wind market, ABS has published its second detailed report into the sector this year.

Safety and Compliance Insights: Understanding U.S. Regulations for Offshore Wind Vessels is a response to a significant volume of inquiries from designers and operators keen for the company’s insight into US vessel design and safety regulations.

Detailing Jones Act implications for offshore wind support vessels, such as service operation vessels and crew transfer vessels, United States Coast Guard (USCG) structure and US regulations for vessel design, construction and operation, the report addresses the most frequently asked questions on safety and compliance received by ABS specialists.

Matt Tremblay, ABS senior vice president, Global Offshore, said: “Given the significant potential for growth in US offshore wind, the sector is receiving widespread attention from developers and vessel designers and operators, and ABS is uniquely positioned to assist. With our long-standing leadership in offshore classification, combined with our commitment to safety and detailed understanding of the distinct requirements of the US regulatory environment and extensive experience with USCG, ABS is understandably receiving a high volume of inquiries for assistance.”

In March, the company published a report evaluating the US offshore wind industry’s readiness to deliver the 40 GW of offshore wind capacity the International Energy Agency estimates will be installed by 2040. Offshore Wind Report, Positioning for U.S. Expansion: US Ports and Vessels Innovation, assessed US port infrastructure, availability of specialist support tonnage as well as looking at emerging industry trends and challenges for the growing US offshore wind market.

ABS will class the Charybdis, the first Jones Act compliant wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) under construction at Keppel AmFELS for Dominion Energy and the first Jones Act compliant service operation vessel (SOV) to be built at Edison Chouest for Ørsted and Eversource. These vessels will join the first ABS-classed crew transfer vessel (CTV) in the US, the Windserve Odyssey.

The company has also issued approval in principle for a series of wind support vessels, such as WTIVs, SOVs, feeder vessels, and CTVs from US and European designers.

06/08/2021