Lloyd’s Register and NETSCo to develop Jones Act compliant wind turbine installation vessel

Two Green Marine partners, Lloyd’s Register North America, Inc. and NETSCo, will collaborate to design a vessel to support the offshore wind industry in the United States. The Jones Act (also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920) requires any vessel transporting cargo between U.S. ports, or between U.S. ports and offshore facilities, to be built and flagged in the U.S.

NETSCo engineers and naval architects will be responsible for the concept design of the wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV). The design will focus on meeting regulatory specifications for the U.S. East Coast and the U.S. Great Lakes, such as crane capacity, deck space, and water depth.

Lloyd’s Register North will review and evaluate NETSCo’s concept design to ensure the vessel complies with applicable regulations.

The collaboration is aimed at better supporting the offshore wind turbine market with a vessel that complies with the Jones Act requirements, as well as offering conversion options for vessels that have been dry-docked by the economic downturn.

Image from NETSCo