The following is the text of a news release from A.K. Suda naval architects and marine engineers:
(METAIRIE, La.) — All Coast LLC, a liftboat management and operations provider in North America, is developing a new liftboat that will be the first Jones Act-compliant vessel built for the purpose of U.S. wind farm installation and support activities (WTIV). The liftboat will be capable of installing the offshore foundations and wind turbines, as well as providing necessary maintenance.
All Coast has partnered with SEMCO LLC, the southeast Louisiana-based shipyard. SEMCO has many years of experience in building liftboats that have been used around the world, including some of the largest liftboats ever built in the U.S. The yard also has built the only liftboat in the U.S. that has been used for offshore wind farm installation and support.
All Coast has also partnered with A.K. Suda Inc. to design the liftboat. Suda has designed many first-of-a-kind vessels, including the first U.S. Coast Guard-approved liftboat, the first truss leg liftboat and the three largest liftboats in the world.
“The vessel has to be special purpose, and efficiently designed, built and operated to have any success in this business,” said John Powers of All Coast. “Barges on legs don’t make WTIVs.”
The liftboat is based on the Suda model JG6000P. Its design has been optimized by Suda to work within the restrictions presented at different staging ports in the U.S.
“Siemens Gamesa is confident in the development of offshore wind, and the U.S. is a focus market for us as we expand outside of developed markets in Europe. A U.S.-flagged installation and maintenance vessel helps to establish a sustainable offshore industry in our country,” said Jason Folsom, head of sales, offshore Americas, for Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.
