ABS to class first Jones Act compliant turbine installation vessel

Offshore staff

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The first ever Jones Act compliant offshore wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) will be built to ABS Class.

Keppel AmFELS is constructing the Charybdis for Dominion Energy. The 472-ft (144-m) long vessel is designed by GustoMSC to handle turbine sizes of 12 megawatt or larger. It will also be capable of installing foundations and performing other heavy lifts.

The vessel will have accommodation for up to 119 crew and wind farm technicians. Seajacks will assist Dominion Energy with construction and operations oversight.

The Charybdis is the latest vessel for the US offshore wind industry to be supported by ABS. The first US-flagged Jones Act offshore wind farm service operation vessel (SOV) ever ordered will be built to ABS Class.

The company has also issued AIPs for two Jones Act SOVs to Vard and for a series of other wind support vessels from European designers.

02/24/2021