Vineyard Wind’s first turbine departs New Bedford terminal

Foss Maritime partnered with DEME Offshore US to design and build specialised US-flagged barges to transport the components to the lease area.   

The company is using two barges, Marmac, and Foss Prevailing Wind, the only such barges available, to transport the Haliade-X turbine components such as the towers for the turbine in an upright position. 

The barges are using motion compensation-technology developed by the Netherlands-based Barge Master to actively compensate for barge motions.  

GE will initially load US-flagged Marmac from the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, with three vertically placed tower sections, three blades and a nacelle. Foss will deliver the components to DEME Group’s Sea Installer installation vessel. 

Avangrid chief executive Pedro Azagra said, “Over the past year, we have achieved significant milestones in the development of Vineyard Wind 1, but the installation of the project’s first turbine is a singular landmark for offshore wind, clean energy and climate action in the US. We are proud that local union labour will pioneer the installation of the GE turbines.” 

DEME Offshore president Bill White said the company “is proud to partner with Foss Maritime to play a critical role in deploying Vineyard’s offshore wind turbine components on specialised US-flagged barges.”