# US Flag Offshore Wind **URL:** \ **Category:** Professional Mariner Forum\ **Created:** [April 17, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250 "2019-04-17T18:38:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tugsailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@tugsailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tugsailor)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/1 "2019-04-17T18:38:17Z")
Offshore Wind may be on the cusp of taking off in the US. This green energy will be heavily subsidized by US taxpayers and electricity rate payers. The offshore wind industry plans to install foreign made wind turbines using foreign flag vessels with European and Asian crews. The theory being that there are no specialized offshore wind vessels in the US, and no Americans that know how to run them. We need to put a stop to this. American ship yards can easily build European designed offshore wind vessels. American Mariners can easily learn how to run them. American land wind turbine workers can learn offshore wind work. MARAD should finance construction of a US flag offshore wind construction and service fleet. Rather than merely subsidize offshore wind production, the US government should first sponsor offshore wind training for American workers. The best way to do this would be to finance American companies to buy one or more foreign offshore wind installation and service companies. Then send American managers and workers overseas to learn learn how to do the offshore wind work. Perhaps it might also be beneficial to finance US shipyards to buy a few foreign shipyards that are producing offshore wind vessels. I might even favor a five year Jones Act waiver to allow foreign built offshore vessels to be reflagged US. This would give US shipyards time to crank up US construction of offshore wind vessels. There is no way that American taxpayer and rate payers should be subsidizing offshore wind unless it is built by American workers. ---
**Author:** ![Lee\_Shore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lee\_Shore](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lee_Shore)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 8:33pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/2 "2019-04-17T20:33:31Z")
This is one of many solutions and good ideas proposed on this forum. Sadly, MARAD is like a deer frozen in the headlights of progress and Congress has given up any pretense of working on behalf of the American people. Don’t hold your breath. ---
**Author:** ![flakker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flakker](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/flakker)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 11:52pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/3 "2019-04-17T23:52:49Z")
I keep saying, the problem is not the Jones Act as such. The problem is a lack of an industrial policy for all sectors- the workers in this industry should be pushing a Jones Act for America if you will. We don’t agree on a lot but tugsailor is absolutely right. ---
**Author:** ![ats90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@ats90](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ats90)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 1:18pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/4 "2019-04-18T13:18:25Z")
Has any new developments taken place with this startup? [https://gcaptain.com/aeolus-energy-planning-jones-act-compliant-fleet-of-offshore-wind-vessels/](https://gcaptain.com/aeolus-energy-planning-jones-act-compliant-fleet-of-offshore-wind-vessels/) ---
**Author:** ![Dutchie](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/dutchie/32/170_2.png) [@Dutchie](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Dutchie)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 1:23pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/5 "2019-04-18T13:23:42Z")
I am a bit surprised by the lack of response so far. I suppose that all Americans should jump on this wagon, your message is clear enough, what’s holding them back? ---
**Author:** ![Tellarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@Tellarian](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Tellarian)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 1:39pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/6 "2019-04-18T13:39:20Z")
I fear that the US has completely missed the boat, with the yards, manufacturing, support vessels and mariners all losing out. Politics and pressure groups seem to be the blockers. Wind in Europe now has such economies of scale that it is unsubsdized, with installation costs dropping by 45% over the past four years. Installation vessels can complete a turbine a day ---
**Author:** ![tugsailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@tugsailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tugsailor)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/7 "2019-04-18T15:27:01Z")
My understanding is that Dutch vessels built the Block Island, Rhode Island offshore wind farm, but American tugs and barges were used to support the project and lay the cables. One of the tug and barge operators shared his opinion that future offshore wind farms will use mostly foreign vessels. I’ve heard that Blount built at least one European design CTV, and that more of them are under construction. Plans were announced to build one offshore wind installation vessel, but I don’t know if it ever got beyond the planning stage. I think lawsuits by green groups and NIMBYs will continue to frustrate and delay offshore wind farms in the US, but now that the first one has been built, and the sky has not fallen, more wind farms will follow. In another 10 years, it may become a significant business in North America and the Caribbean. I think it’s headed toward following the offshore drill rig model of being all foreign flag. We need to disrupt that. As far as I’m concerned it has to be an American business, or offshore wind farms should not be built at all. Certainly, foreign built wind farms should not be subsidized by American taxpayers and rate payers. Without subsidies they cannot be built. ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/8 "2019-04-18T16:16:18Z")
The Fred Olsen Windcarrier installation vessel Brave Tern was used for the installation at Block Island. As seen here they brought in Liftboats from the GoM to carry the foundations, transition pieces and blades: ![Fred-Olsen-2](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/2X/5/5130903e4857cad59e8e22ea99b48eba3f782bfa.jpeg) Here is a video about the project: [Block Island turbine installation](https://www.oedigital.com/oe-media/oe-videos/item/13773-block-island-turbine-installation) From another source: > [@](#): > > The lift-boats, _Caitlin_ and _Paul_ , then delivered the 15 blades and 15 tower sections on-site for assembly. The cable installation was done from a barge: [https://www.oceannews.com/featured-stories/subsea-cable-installation-for-the-block-island-wind-farm](https://www.oceannews.com/featured-stories/subsea-cable-installation-for-the-block-island-wind-farm) ---
**Author:** ![Dutchie](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/dutchie/32/170_2.png) [@Dutchie](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Dutchie)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 4:17pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/9 "2019-04-18T16:17:54Z")
> [@tugsailor](#): > > Perhaps it might also be beneficial to finance US shipyards to buy a few foreign shipyards that are producing offshore wind vessels. It takes quite some time to close the knowledge gap that now exists. At this moment in time, to shorten the learning curve, your suggestion would be the proper and quickest approach to bring the US up to speed. ---
**Author:** ![Hogsnort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@Hogsnort](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hogsnort)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/10 "2019-04-18T20:08:49Z")
The weather in the video looks like it was specially ordered by the installation manager but I wouldn’t count on too many amps while it stays like that. ---
**Author:** ![Spreedriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Spreedriver](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Spreedriver)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2019, 12:07pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/11 "2019-04-24T12:07:04Z")
Maybe I don’t understand, but why are GOM oilfield support vessels not able to erect a wind turbine? I’m sure there are plenty of shipyards along the gulf coast just itching to take a contract. What’s so fancy about a Dutch built crane barge VS an American built crane barge? ---
**Author:** ![Tellarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@Tellarian](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Tellarian)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2019, 12:49pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/12 "2019-04-24T12:49:35Z")
Technology, design, experience. The GoM has stagnated for decades. > **[Design of Wind Turbine Installation Ships 'Pacific Orca' & 'Pacific Osprey'](https://www.knudehansen.com/reference/pacific-orca-pacific-osprey/)** > > These Wind Turbine Installation vessels reduce installation times, create larger weather windows for operations, and reduce transport times. ---
**Author:** ![tugsailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@tugsailor](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tugsailor)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2019, 1:23pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/13 "2019-04-24T13:23:54Z")
Compare the quality of otherwise similar boats built in the Gulf or the Pacific Northwest. There is a reason why the Gulf built boats are often called “Walmart boats.” Now compare a Gulf built boat to a Euro built boat. However, Gulf shipyards can build adequate offshore wind vessels. Especially after the first few have been built and the learning curve has been surmounted. But why not go to Europe to learn how to do it right the first time? ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 4:09pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/14 "2019-04-25T16:09:13Z")
Looks like Fred Olsen Windcarriers have got their eyes open for the capability and suitability of US Liftboats in the Offshore Wind Power market. They have chartered in the L/B Jill to work in Europe: > **[Fred. Olsen Windcarrier charters in jackup from Falcon - Splash247](https://splash247.com/fred-olsen-windcarrier-charters-in-jackup-from-falcon/)** > > Fred. Olsen Windcarrier has brought in a jackup vessel on long-term time charter from Seacor subsidiary Falcon Global. The vessel will be integrated into the Fred. Olsen Windcarrier fleet for offshore wind operations in Europe when it arrives from... She arrived in R’dam on the HLV HUA SHENG LONG two days ago and is now being prepared for her first job: > **[Ship LB JILL (Offshore Supply Ship) Registered in USA - Vessel details,...](https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:1189923/mmsi:367635620/imo:9740304/vessel:LB_JILL)** > > Vessel LB JILL is a Offshore Supply Ship, Registered in USA. Discover the vessel's particulars, including capacity, machinery, photos and ownership. Get the details of the current Voyage of LB JILL including Position, Port Calls, Destination, ETA and... Here she is in all her glory: ![Jill_IMG_0338](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/2X/5/5b643f50054bb429e45c396b6e4af15b4d28f4b7.jpeg) Please also note the last bit: > [@](#): > > Last month, Fred. Olsen Windcarrier and Falcon Global signed a cooperation agreement where each party will contribute vessels and crew to operate a full spread of offshore wind installation feeder vessels in the United States. Maybe Seacor/Falcon Global will be using this opportunity to train some of their personnel for the upcoming boom in US Offshore Wind market?? ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2019, 10:35am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/15 "2019-04-26T10:35:08Z")
Not specifically built for the Offshore Wind market but easily adopted to work in that field: [https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/oceaneering-takes-delivery-of-ocean-evolution/](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/oceaneering-takes-delivery-of-ocean-evolution/) This is a Marine Teknikk MT 6022 type, a very versatile design: > **[OCEAN EVOLUTION](http://www.marinteknikk.no/mt-design/scv/mt-6022-c37332l511/ocean-evolution)** > > Marin Teknikk AS is an independent ship design and engineering company. We offer well proven designs and good solutions for the various vessel categories. MT is known for high flexibility and innovation by doing specialized tailor made designs. Several of her sisters have found work in the Offshore Wind market in Northern Europe. One is even used in diamond mining off Namibia. PS\> I notice that MT has her building year as 2016 (??) ---
**Author:** ![flakker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flakker](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/flakker)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2019, 4:17pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/16 "2019-04-26T16:17:34Z")
Horizon Shipyard in Alabama did a solid job with the NYC Ferries at a low price… and went bankrupt. Metal Shark in Louisiana made a mess of the same boat at 25% more $ and is doing great! ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 1:00pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/17 "2019-05-01T13:00:38Z")
Split this topic on May 1, 2019, 1:00pm UTC A post was split to a new topic: [Wind farm installation vessel at work](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/wind-farm-installation-vessel-at-work/51381) ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2019, 11:07am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/18 "2019-10-05T11:07:17Z")
Foss and Østensjø is joining forces in the US Offshore Wind market: > **[New partnership aims to provide premium marine services to the US offshore...](https://ostensjo.no/new-partnership-aims-to-provide-premium-marine-services-to-the-us-offshore-wind-energy-sector/)** > > Photo: Nicki Pløk, UNIFLY Foss Maritime and Østensjø Rederi AS announce MOU to establish an SOV partnership Foss Maritime LLC and Østensjø Rederi AS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a partnership to provide domestic Service... ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2019, 11:24am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/us-flag-offshore-wind/51250/19 "2019-10-05T11:24:39Z")
Closed on October 5, 2019, 11:24am UTC