The U.S. offshore wind industry is poised for rapid expansion, bringing unprecedented opportunities for shipbuilders, maritime companies, and coastal communities. To build and maintain these projects, over 25 specialized vessel types will be needed—fueling job creation, strengthening domestic supply chains, and reinforcing America’s leadership in clean energy.
Building A Fleet for the Future
- Surveying & Development: Vessels to assess seabed conditions, conduct environmental studies, and lay the foundation for offshore wind farms.
- Construction & Installation: Heavy-lift vessels, cable-laying ships, and crew transfer vessels to assemble and power offshore turbines.
- Operations & Maintenance: Service operation vessels (SOVs) and crew transfer vessels (CTVs) ensuring turbines run efficiently for decades.
Why It Matters
- Economic Growth: More U.S.-built vessels mean more shipyard jobs and maritime industry investment.
- Energy Independence: A stronger offshore wind fleet enables faster, more cost-effective deployment of clean energy.
- Workforce Expansion: Thousands of mariner and shipbuilding jobs will be created as offshore wind scales up.
Explore the full fact sheet to discover the vessel types needed at every stage of an offshore wind project and the economic opportunities they bring.
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