Charybdis, First U.S.-Built Wind Turbine Installation Vessel Begins Sea Trials

Offshore Wind Installation Vessel — Image Credits: Wikipedia

Charybdis, the first U.S.-built wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV), has officially started its sea trials in Brownsville, Texas.

The vessel, which is nearly complete at Seatrium AmFELS shipyard, will play an important role in constructing the 2.6-gigawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project, the largest offshore wind initiative ever approved in the United States.

Standing at 472 feet long, Charybdis has been constructed using over 14,000 tons of domestic steel, with nearly 10,000 tons sourced from Alabama, North Carolina and West Virginia.

The CVOW project, located off Virginia Beach, is now halfway finished and is on track for completion by late 2026. The project has already installed 16 transition pieces and it has received its first 4,300-ton offshore substation at Portsmouth Marine Terminal.

The project is expected to power hundreds of thousands of homes once complete.

Dominion Energy, which is overseeing the project, reported that the CVOW project has already created thousands of American jobs and is generating substantial economic activity.

Bob Blue, Chair, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Dominion Energy, remarked that the project was not just about building turbines but about creating thousands of American jobs and advancing U.S. energy independence.

Charybdis is designed to handle turbines with a capacity of 12 megawatts or larger and will operate from Hampton Roads, Virginia, a critical offshore wind installation hub.

The construction of Charybdis has been a major job creation. During its peak, the project employed over 1,200 workers at Seatrium AmFELS shipyard. The CVOW project, which has seen a 9% rise in costs to $10.7 billion, is also benefiting from significant local economic activity.

Despite the rise in costs, Dominion Energy expects only a modest 43-cent increase on residential customers’ monthly bills, ensuring that the project remains affordable for consumers.

Chris Ong, Seatrium’s CEO, highlighted the importance of Charybdis in advancing U.S. offshore wind capabilities.“This groundbreaking project is helping to lay the foundation for future growth in the U.S. offshore wind industry,” Ong added.

In a historic feat, Charybdis will perform the world’s largest completed lift, totalling 23,000 tons, once fully operational.

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