Seatrium has announced that sea trials are underway for Charybdis, the first Jones Act-compliant wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) built in the USA. Commissioned by Dominion Energy, the vessel recently completed jacking trials and main crane load testing.
Currently 96 per cent complete, Charybdis is under construction at Seatrium’s AmFELS shipyard in Brownsville, Texas. It meets U.S. Jones Act regulations, allowing it to operate in domestic waters for offshore wind projects. Designed to install current and next-generation wind turbines of up to 12 MW or larger, the vessel measures 472 feet in length, 184 feet in width, and 38 feet in depth. It is equipped with a 426-foot crane capable of lifting up to 2,200 tonnes and can accommodate up to 119 people.
The vessel remains on schedule for delivery in 2025 and will support Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project following final preparations.
