Mayflower Wind, the developer of a deep water offshore wind project today announced the signing of an agreement with Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding/Duclos Corporation of Somerset, MA for the specification, design, and manufacture of an industry-leading, Jones Act-compliant, hybrid battery diesel electric crew transfer vessel.
The design of this world-class CTV utilizes technologies that will provide significant fuel savings and emissions reductions, including the use of Lithium-Ion battery energy storage to create a hybrid vessel that will be a bridge to full electrification. The multi-party agreement includes other maritime industry-leading collaborators from across the globe including Incat Crowther (Australia/UK/Lafayette, LA), BAR Technologies (UK), Corvus Energy (Norway), and ABS (Spring, TX) and will proceed if Mayflower is awarded a contract under the latest Massachusetts procurement for offshore wind.
“Mayflower Wind aims to develop the most innovative, fuel-efficient CTV built in the United States,” said Michael Brown, CEO of Mayflower Wind. “Ensuring that this vessel is constructed at a shipyard in Somerset is a big boost to the Massachusetts maritime economy and launches this shipyard toward a new and growing market.”
Gladding-Hearn is a leading small shipbuilder that in its 66-year history has constructed more than 430 vessels including those used for ferry service in New York, Boston Harbor and to Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Block Island. Gladding-Hearn is also the nation’s leading builder of offshore pilot boats, which transfer harbor pilots to and from ships in extreme conditions. Peter Duclos, President of Gladding-Hearn said this project has the potential to create new jobs at his company over the next 24-36 months, “We are excited about the possibility of working with Mayflower Wind,” he said. “They want to raise the bar of CTV design and have assembled an experienced team to do just that.”
Duclos noted that his firm has seen the promise of the offshore wind market over the past 10 plus years and that the timing of this opportunity is perfect given the pandemic’s negative effect on the new vessel construction market. “With our location and experienced team at Gladding-Hearn, we are ready to serve the offshore wind market. We’ve been working to make it happen since the early days of Cape Wind. We’re glad to finally see it come to fruition with Mayflower Wind,” Duclos added.
Brown noted that by encouraging local shipyards such as Gladding-Hearn to establish themselves as ship builders for the offshore wind industry, Mayflower Wind is working to foster a local maritime supply chain. Brown emphasized, “This is not just an agreement with a local shipyard – it is integration of that shipyard into a collaboration with the most sophisticated and capable technology providers and designers in the world, moving this key local supplier to the forefront of its industry and setting them in a position to compete successfully on the global stage.”
“This is exactly the kind of tangible, real and local economic development that the legislature was shooting for when we enacted the law creating the market for offshore wind power here in Massachusetts,” said Massachusetts Representative Patricia Haddad (D-Somerset) adding, “Not only will this project provide vital work for a critical local business it will position Gladding-Hearn to successfully compete for future jobs by establishing them as a technology leader.”
“The transition to a clean energy economy provides a unique opportunity to build a new advanced marine manufacturing sector and this project grabs that opportunity with both hands,” said U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss, “harnessing the power of established and expert local businesses like Gladding-Hearn, large renewable energy developers like Mayflower Wind, and the technology partners that have come together here, will build local prosperity in Somerset while helping to reach our national climate protection and clean energy goals.”
The other partners in the project each bring unique knowledge, industry experience, and technologies to create what will be an industry-leading low emissions vessel design capable of operating in challenging weather and ocean conditions like those found offshore New England. Incat Crowther is the designer of the vessel, which will be based upon one of its industry leading CTVs already in service in Europe and customized to suit local requirements. ABS is onboard to provide design review for Approval In Principle, verification of applicable Rules, standards and US Coast Guard Regulations, and Classification of the CTV. BAR Technologies brings its Foil Optimized Stability System for fuel savings and reduced vertical accelerations for improved safety and comfort, as well as its advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling and simulation that can optimize the hull and foils to reduce the drag and increase fuel efficiency. Corvus is supplier of its innovative and proven onboard battery energy storage solution to enable efficient lower emissions operations.
Speaking on the collaboration, John Cooper, CEO of BAR Technologies, said, “BAR firmly believes in collaboration as the way forward in establishing and improving vessels, technologies, and expertise in offshore wind. We are delighted to be working with Mayflower Wind and Gladding-Hearn as leaders in the US market, to both support them in building out a successful offshore wind support sector and drive the further development of BAR’s energy efficient vessel technologies.”
Greg Lennon, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Vice President, Global Offshore Wind said, “ABS, headquartered in the U.S., is pleased to partner with this team and provide our U.S. regulatory insight to support Shell New Energies and Ocean Winds, as we all advance the U.S. offshore wind supply chain. We are excited to help develop this advanced hybrid concept while keeping the focus on safety through the design review and eventual classification of the vessel. This Jones Act-compliant CTV concept is the latest evidence of ABS’ commitment to supporting delivery of local content.”
Ronald Hansen SVP Ship Solutions of Corvus Energy says that Corvus Energy Storage Solutions are ideally suited for crew transfer vessels as they are very adaptable to meet this innovative CTV design criteria. “Corvus ESS have multiple possibilities of installation which ensures the optimal hybrid solution for maximum emission savings,” he said. “Moreover, batteries are safer and quieter for the crew, and save both fuel and maintenance costs for the owners.”
Design of the vessel would occur during 2022-2023, setting the stage for building and launching the hybrid CTV in the mid 2020’s, timing that would fit well with the start of operation of wind turbines by Mayflower Wind.
About Mayflower Wind
Mayflower Wind, a 50/50 joint venture between Shell New Energies US LLC and Ocean Winds, is developing an offshore wind lease area with the potential to supply over 2,000 megawatts (MW) of low-cost clean energy to electricity customers in New England. Mayflower Wind is committed to zero harm, innovation, and industry development, and investing in our local communities. For more information visit www.mayflowerwind.com.
, BAR Technologies (UK), Corvus Energy (Norway), and ABS (Spring, TX) and will proceed if Mayflower is awarded a contract under the latest Massachusetts procurement for offshore wind.){kind=link}