At the start of August developer Cape Wind awarded a contract to Weeks/Manson Joint Venture (WMJV), a joint venture of marine contractor Weeks Marine and heavy civil marine contractor Manson Construction Co., to become lead construction contractor for the 468MW Cape Wind offshore wind farm.
Cape Wind is to be located off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on Horseshoe Shoal in Nantucket Sound. At the moment the project is still awaiting financial closure.
WMJV will use, among a fleet of other vessels, a special purpose offshore wind installation vessel, the R.D. MacDonald, to install the 130 Siemens 3.6MW offshore wind turbines. The R.D. MacDonald, a 260ft jack-up barge which will be fitted with a crane with a 280ft boom, and will be able to transport 3 turbines at the time.
WMJV has subcontracted Fall River Electrical Associates to perform electric outfitting work for the project and the Boston & New England Maritime Trades Council, AFL-CIO, to provide skilled workers to WMJV to build Cape Wind.