Ulstein Design & Solutions B.V. (Ulstein), a leading ship designer with a strong commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge technology, is thrilled to announce the recent keel laying of the Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company’s (GLDD) Subsea Rock Installation Vessel (SRIV) ‘Acadia’ at Philly Shipyard, Inc. (Philly Shipyard). This milestone event marks a significant step forward in the U.S. offshore wind energy industry.
Shaping the future of the U.S. Offshore Wind Market
The Acadia is America’s first U.S.-built SRIV, designed by Ulstein to serve the growing U.S. offshore wind market. As the designer, Ulstein takes immense pride in contributing to the realisation of this groundbreaking vessel. The keel laying ceremony, which took place on May 2, 2024, represents the collaborative efforts of all involved parties: GLDD, Philly Shipyard, and Ulstein.
Ulstein Design & Solutions B.V. Managing Director, Edwin van Leeuwen, expressed his enthusiasm:
The keel laying of the ‘Acadia’ represents a significant achievement for the U.S. offshore wind industry. We are honoured to be part of this historic project and look forward to seeing the vessel in operation.
Key Features of the ‘Acadia’
The Acadia will be the only Jones Act-compliant rock placement vessel in the U.S. commercial fleet. It is a critical vessel needed to develop the planned and permitted U.S. offshore wind projects.
The vessel displays the following key features:
- Rock carrying capacity:
- The SRIV is designed to carry up to 20,000 metric tons of rock, strategically depositing them on the ocean bottom to create a scour protection for monopiles—the primary support structures for offshore wind turbines.
- Inclined fall pipe system:
- The vessel will install protective rock layers at offshore wind turbine foundations using an inclined fall pipe system. This critical function ensures precise subsea rock installation.
- Flexibility and strength:
- With its large and robust aft deck area, the ‘Acadia’ is a highly flexible asset for GLDD. It enables specialized subsea operations, making it an essential tool for offshore wind projects.
- Specifications:
- The vessel boasts an overall length of 140.5 metres (461 feet), a breadth of 34.1 metres (112 feet), and crew accommodations for 45 people.
A clean energy milestone
U.S. President Joe Biden attended the steel-cutting ceremony for the ‘Acadia’ on 20 July 2023, emphasizing the vessel’s importance in achieving the administration’s ambitious goal of 30 GW of offshore wind generation by 2030. This clean energy milestone is estimated to power over 10 million American homes.
Offshore wind will play a crucial role in helping the U.S. meet its decarbonisation goals, and the Acadia will be key in building the future of the U.S. offshore wind energy industry, establishing a U.S.-based rock supply chain network and helping to reach the nation’s ambitious offshore wind targets.
