Images: First U.S.-built Wind Turbine Installation Vessel Undergoes Sea Trials

Seatrium has begun sea trials for Charybdis, the first U.S.-built Wind Turbine Installation Vessel (WTIV) compliant with the Jones Act.

The vessel is 96% complete and remains on track for delivery in 2025. It has been constructed at Seatrium’s AmFELS shipyard in Brownsville, Texas.

Charybdis is commissioned by Dominion Energy and designed to support offshore wind projects in U.S. waters. It recently passed critical tests, including a jacking trial and main crane load testing.

The vessel is expected to play an important role in the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project after final preparation works, such as grillage installation, are completed.

It has a length of 472 feet, width of 184 feet, and depth of 38 feet and is among the world’s largest WTIVs. It features a 426-foot crane with a lifting capacity of 2,200 tonnes and can accommodate up to 119 people.

Wind Turbine Installation Vessel — Image Credits: Seatrium/Linkedin

The vessel is built to handle both current and future-generation wind turbines with capacities of up to 12 megawatts or more.

Construction on Charybdis started in December 2020, and it was launched in April 2024. Initially planned for completion in late 2023, the project timeline shifted, with its operational start now expected in 2025.

Once delivered, it will begin work on Dominion Energy’s offshore wind farm, which is set for completion by the end of 2026. Being the first vessel of its kind built in the U.S., Charybdis has seen a huge increase in costs.

Early estimates placed the price between $500 million and $625 million, but by August 2024, the latest projection, including financing, had risen to $715 million.

Dominion Energy has confirmed that overall project expenses remain on budget, even as costs for transmission infrastructure have risen. Offshore installations have already surpassed the halfway mark and are progressing as scheduled.

Reference: Seatrium

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