Roll Group is supporting Jan de Nul with the provision of its BigRoll vessels for the offshore wind farm project located off the coast of Virginia Beach.

With the operational kick-off of the construction of the offshore wind farm, Jan De Nul formally entered the American offshore renewables market for the first time.

The wind farm will be located 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach, generating a combined total of 12MW, a cooperation between Dominion and Ørsted Wind Power North America, with Jan De Nul as subcontractor.

The first foundation components for two windmills were loaded onto the BigRoll Beaufort at the EEW facility in Rostock, Germany at the end of March.

After loading in Rostock, the BigRoll Beaufort made a port call in Esbjerg, Denmark, to load the ‘white’ parts – like towers and blades. Mid April the vessel set sail to the final destination Halifax, Canada.

At this moment the BigRoll Beaufort is ready for the discharge operation. The foundation components will be discharged by Jan De Nul’s installation vessel Vole au Vent, which will sail to the wind farm to install the foundation components.

In the meantime, Jan De Nul will assemble and commission the tower sections onboard the BigRoll Beaufort and prepare it for installation by the Vole au Vent.

“This project is important to us, because it gives us the opportunity to show that Roll Group has vessels that are highly suitable for the Offshore Wind industry. Being part of this pioneering and complex project where our vessel is an integral part of the shipping and assembly scope shows the true added value we can deliver from a technical and operational perspective.”

Bastian Bojko, operations director Roll Group.

“This contract is an important milestone for the international maritime industry. It opens the door for non-US marine companies to work in the United States. Moreover, this wind farm is the first American wind farm located in Federal Waters. We are proud to be the first European marine contractor to pave the way.”

Philippe Hutse, offshore director of Jan De Nul Group.