BOA Offshore, Fagioli, break three records in one go

Offshore services provider BOA Offshore supported the launch of the first Jones Act-compliant wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV). The company lent a hand to its customer Fagioli in placing the newbuild vessel in the water, breaking several records in the process.

The WTIV was rolled onto Boabarge 29, Boabarge 30 and Boabarge 38, before being placed in the water at Seatrium AmFELS shipyard in Brownsville, Texas.

The project marked several records. It was the first three-barge simultaneous ballasting operation, the world’s largest load out totalling 26,000 tons, and included the world’s largest SPMT assembly of 880 axles.

Once completed, the vessel named Charybdis, will operate in Hampton Roads, one of the nation’s premier offshore wind installation harbours, and is expected to handle turbine sizes of 12 megawatts or larger, contributing to the growth of the offshore wind industry along the U.S. East Coast.

“Seatrium AmFELS shipyard has partnered with Dominion Energy in this ground-breaking project to supply the first U.S. Jones Act-compliant WTIV, Charybdis, playing a critical role in the country’s energy transition. The U.S.-built vessel will not only contribute to reliable, affordable, and clean energy but also benefit local communities by creating significant local know-how and job opportunities, paving the way for future growth in the U.S. offshore wind industry,” said Chris Ong, Seatrium’s Chief Executive Officer.