Fred. Olsen Windcarrier provides transatlantic jack-up vessels for offshore wind

Offshore wind farms are becoming mainstream. In Europe, 17 offshore farms began operations in 2017 . In the US, meanwhile, Yale University expects offshore wind to “enjoy significant growth in the coming decade”.

Because wind farms are being built further from shore than ever before, the industry has an ever-increasing need for robust installation and service vessels.

The first US offshore wind farm

Fred. Olsen Windcarrier has installed and serviced wind farms in Europe since 2008. The Fred. Olsen group has worked with wind energy since the 1990s.

Among the company’s latest projects is installation of wind turbines at Block Island Wind, dubbed “America’s first offshore wind farm”. Block Island is located south of Rhode Island and the project will supply the US state with 30MW of clean energy.

One of Fred. Olsen’s two self-elevating jack-up installation vessels transported five nacelles – turbine cover housings – across the Atlantic from France. The company subsequently installed the full turbines at Block Island.

The company is also involved in a range of projects in Belgium, Germany, Scandinavia and the UK.

Concrete benefits

Fred. Olsen Windcarrier is among the world’s most experienced offshore wind installers, employing the industry’s most innovative methods. The company operates two installation vessels and seven service vessels, and provides experienced crew and project managers.

Market potential

Offshore wind is projected to grow significantly in the coming years as renewable energy sources capture market shares from fossil fuels.

The Fred. Olsen group is a collection of global shipping companies with vast experience in everything from cargo and cruise ships to offshore oil and gas. To date, Fred. Olsen Windcarrier has installed more than 300 wind turbines in Europe and North America.