This article highlights offshore wind infrastructure projects that are underway in the Hampton Roads region.
Portsmouth Marine Terminal Logistics
In October 2023, the Port of Virginia began work on the first shipment of components for Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project.
Crews using specialized handling equipment offloaded eight large monopile foundations at Portsmouth Marine Terminal (PMT).
The facility is a former container terminal that is being repurposed by the port to handle the large and heavy components used in the construction of offshore wind turbines.
Because of their length and weight, monopiles and similar components require a deep-water marine terminal capable of handling the extreme loads.
“We are investing in PMT to ensure it can handle this kind of cargo and it easily passed this first test,” said Stephen A. Edwards, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. “Our work here is progressing according to schedule and this terminal is well-situated to meet the needs of the CVOW project. There is going to be a lot of activity taking place here during the next year, and The Port of Virginia is going to establish itself as the Mid-Atlantic’s logistics hub for offshore wind.”
Portsmouth Marine Terminal is one of the port’s two multi-use terminals in the Norfolk Harbor. The 287-acre facility is located on deep water, has on-dock rail access and offers ample open space for storage/staging.
Additionally, the port is investing more than $220 million to reinforce the pavement of the terminal’s cargo yard, rebuild the berth and rework the vessel mooring configuration.
In the Norfolk Harbor there are no overhead obstructions to restrict the movement of large cargo or specialized vessels, like those that will be used in building and erecting the offshore wind turbines.
The CVOW project will consist of the construction of 176 offshore wind turbines situated on a lease site 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach.
Norfolk Fairwinds Landing Marine Terminal MARAD Grant
In November 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced $39,265,000 in federal funding for the City of Norfolk Economic Development Authority (Norfolk EDA) to assist in transforming the marine terminal at Fairwinds Landing into offshore wind logistics facility.
The funding was awarded through the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) in response to a joint application submitted by the Norfolk EDA and Fairwinds Landing, LLC.
Fairwinds Landing, LLC is a new Virginia limited liability company established to develop and operate Lambert’s Point Docks.
Fairwinds Landing, formerly known as Lamberts Point Docks, is located in the Chelsea Business District on the eastern bank of the Elizabeth River.
The PIDP funding will assist in financing the renovation of the aging waterfront infrastructure at Fairwinds Landing.
The renovation project has three major components designed to enhance port capabilities for offshore wind operations and maintenance activities, heavy lift operations, and cable loading operations.
The PIDP funding will be a catalyst for generating hundreds of new jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in future capital investments at Fairwinds Landing.
sources: Virginia Port Authority, City of Norfolk
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