US-based liftboat specialist Falcon Global LLC and Fred. Olsen Windcarrier AS have reached a cooperation agreement to exclusively contribute vessels and marine/installation crews and operate a full spread of offshore wind installation and feeder vessels for the US offshore wind market.
The Falcon Global fleet consists of one of the largest existing US-flag and Jones-Act compliant lift boats in the US. The combination of Fred. Olsen Windcarrier’s fleet of Wind Turbine Installation Vessels and the Falcon Global fleet will create a marine spread capable of installing the largest turbines in the market, the companies said. The Falcon Global vessels will form a feeder-solution of up to four vessels depending on installation parameters.
“The two companies combine the best of US marine expertise and Jones Act compliant liftboats with European offshore wind know-how and class leading jack-up vessels for the upcoming US offshore wind farms,” Ketil Arvesen , Vice President of Fred.Olsen Ocean, said.
”This unique combination of available assets and experience in an exclusive agreement will enable installation of multi megawatt offshore turbines in the US, bringing business case certainty to the developers. We are proud to team up with Falcon Global and SEACOR Marine in an exclusive agreement to make this happen.”
Falcon Global vessels and Fred. Olsen Windcarrier installed the five turbines on the Block Island project in 2016, the first offshore wind farm in the US.
Currently, several offshore wind farms are planned along the US North East Coast in 13 leased areas, as reported by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in Washington, D.C. (BOEM).
John Gellert , President and CEO of SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc., the parent company of Falcon Global, said: ”This agreement is not only the first significant announcement for our investment in Falcon Global, but also a major milestone for SEACOR Marine, as we continue to implement our strategy of diversifying our customer base outside of oil and gas markets, and expanding in windfarm services where we already have a substantial presence with Windcat Workboats in Europe.”