Ørsted, Edison Chouest christen first US-built offshore wind SOV

Danish offshore wind developer Ørsted A/S (CPH:ORSTED) and Louisiana-based shipbuilder Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) on Saturday held a christening for the first American-built offshore wind service operations vessel (SOV) at the Port of New Orleans.

Named the ECO EDISON, the first US-flagged offshore wind SOV will support the operation and maintenance of Ørsted and US utility Eversource Energy’s South Fork Wind, Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind projects. Eversource is currently in the process of exiting the offshore wind business.

Ørsted said in an announcement its investment in the vessel demonstrates its commitment to building a domestic offshore energy supply chain. The SOV was built by more than 600 workers at ECO in-house shipyards in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida, and will be powered by engines from Houston-based Caterpillar Marine.

The ECO EDISON will be used as a year-round homebase for 60 offshore wind turbine technicians, who will service and maintain the wind turbines over their lifetime.

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