The Charybdis, the first U.S. flagged, Jones Act-compliant wind turbine installation vessel, was launched at the Seatrium AmFELS shipyard in Brownsville, Texas, Dominion Energy announced April 15.
The 472’ WTIV is the first U.S.-built entry to the offshore wind installation market, where the high international market drives up costs and lowers availability for U.S. project developers. When complete the Charybdis will support Dominion’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, a planned 176 turbines with a maximum nameplate output rating of 2.6 gigawatts.
Dominion recently received its final federal permit for the project – a final construction air permit from the Environmental Protection Agency – and expects to begin installing monopile foundations in May, according to the company.
“Charybdis is vital not only to CVOW but also to the growth of the offshore wind industry along the U.S. East Coast and is key to the continued development of a domestic supply chain by providing a homegrown solution for the installation of offshore wind turbines,” said Bob Blue, Dominion Energy’s chair, president and chief executive officer.