Dominion Energy picks Huisman for crane contract on offshore wind installation

Dominion Energy has tapped Huisman for the crane contract for its offshore wind installation vessel for its offshore wind turbines.

“A Jones Act compliant offshore wind installation vessel is vital for the continued growth of the U.S. offshore wind industry,” Mark D. Mitchell, Dominion Energy’s vice president of generation construction, said. “Huisman is a global leader and brings years of experience to this venture and will further enable the offshore wind industry to bring clean, renewable energy to customers in the U.S.”

The Jones Act is a federal law that regulates maritime commerce in the United States.

Huisman, with factories in four countries worldwide, is a leading contractor in the offshore wind market. Its products range from handling tools, pile grippers, and large capacity lightweight cranes. The crane for this installation vessel will be able to lift 2,200 tons.

“We are proud to contribute to Dominion Energy’s ambition to enable large scale offshore wind development in the United States, and we are grateful for their trust in Huisman to deliver and install this crane,” David Roodenburg, CEO of Huisman, said.

The vessel, which is expected to enter service in 2023, is based out of the Hampton Roads region of Virginia with a U.S. crew. The company expects the vessel to be fully utilized on a pipeline exceeding 5 gigawatts of U.S. offshore wind construction though 2027.

In June, Dominion completed installation of the 12-megawatt, two turbine Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind pilot project, located 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach. Offshore wind generation is a vital part of Dominion Energy’s clean energy strategy to meet standards outlined in the Virginia Clean Economy Act. Its goal is to achieve net zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions by 2050.

Dominion serves 7 million customers in 20 states.