HOUMA, La. - Louisianan shipbuilder Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) is building a seagoing mammoth that marks offshore wind power's growing presence around the Gulf Coast. ECO is assembling the 260-foot-long Eco Edison for the Danish firm Ørsted that builds and operates wind farms worldwide, and Eversource, a New England energy provider. When delivered in 2024, the ship will serve as a floating hotel for U.S. offshore wind technicians and a warehouse for tools for wind farms in the Northeast. The trio of companies gathered April 4 under the bow of the unfinished vessel to mark construction progress. Offshore oil companies possess valuable know-how for the offshore wind industry and how to maintain machinery in a salty environment. Wind turbines won't be sprouting up in the GoM right away. Although the Biden administration is considering the first-ever lease sale for offshore wind energy in the Gulf of Mexico, there are challenges to address. Gulf Coast cities/companies are “a big part” of what will make the offshore wind industry successful, said David Hardy, CEO of the Ørsted Americas region. Ørsted and Eversource say they're investing hundreds of millions of dollars in shipbuilding across the Gulf Coast. More than 400 ECO shipbuilders have worked on the vessel to date. Parts of the ship have been manufactured at ECO facilities in Florida and Gulf Ship in Gulfport, Miss., and shipped to Houma. (WWL 04/04/23) A ship for windpower is taking shape in Lousiana oil country | wwltv.com
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