Huisman to deliver 2,200mt Leg Encircling Crane for first Jones Act compliant installation vessel in the U.S.

With a 2,200mt lifting capacity, its lightweight design, 130m long boom but yet compact house, this crane is unique and ideal for the installation of next generation offshore wind turbines and foundations. The Huisman crane will ensure that Dominion Energy’s Charybdis will be fit-for-purpose for the installation of large-scale offshore wind developments in the U.S. With several gigawatts of offshore wind capacity to be installed along the East Coast in the next decade, access to Jones Act compliant offshore wind turbine installation vessels is of strategic importance to the American offshore wind market.

For this project, Huisman will implement the same robust and proven technology used for the LEC for Seajacks’ offshore wind installation vessel Scylla. The crane is scheduled for delivery in 2023, with Huisman North America, based in Rosenberg (Texas), planning to commission and test it at the Keppel AmFELS yard in Brownsville (Texas).

Mark D. Mitchell, Senior Vice President, Project Construction at Dominion Energy: “A Jones Act compliant offshore wind installation vessel is vital for the continued growth of the U.S. offshore wind industry. Huisman is a global leader and brings years of experience to this venture and will further enable the offshore wind industry to bring clean, renewable energy to customers in the U.S.”

David Roodenburg, CEO at Huisman: “We are grateful for the trust Dominion Energy has shown in Huisman and are proud to be part of a driving force in energy transition in the U.S. We look forward to cooperating with Dominion Energy, Keppel AmFELS and Seajacks to deliver this state-of-the-art crane, using our extensive experience in designing and building large capacity cranes for the offshore wind market. We are aware of the challenges involved in making such an investment during Covid-19 times without there being an opportunity for personal interaction during finalisation of the contractual agreement and start-up of the project itself, which is why we appreciate Dominion’s confidence even more.”

Features & benefits of the Huisman Leg Encircling Crane:

• A fully electrically driven system, resulting in high positioning accuracy, reduced maintenance and higher reliability.
• A unique Lambda boom design ensuring a lightweight and stiff design.
• Stiff construction of the Lambda shaped boom leading to reduced motion at the crane tip.
• Small tail swing allowing for optimised utilisation of free deck space.