The first jacket foundation for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project—set to become the largest offshore wind installation in the U.S.—was completed and shipped from Esbjerg Port. This Danish port is uniquely equipped with the infrastructure and heavy-lifting cranes necessary to facilitate the production and transportation of such massive structures.
On a brisk morning at Esbjerg Port, a towering 60-meter, 2,445.6-ton yellow steel structure awaited its next journey. This jacket foundation was painstakingly transported from the production site to a waiting vessel using custom heavy-load transport vehicles designed for stability and safety. Each step of the process was meticulously choreographed, with technicians and logistics specialists ensuring the foundation was precisely positioned on board.
The jacket foundation will serve as the supporting structure for an offshore transformer station in Dominion Energy’s CVOW project. Located 40 kilometers off Virginia Beach, this project represents a significant leap for the U.S. offshore wind sector, which is scaling rapidly to meet green energy goals.
Jesper Bank, CCO of Esbjerg Port, remarked, “Producing and transporting these foundations demands specialized equipment and seamless coordination. Our infrastructure and capacity for handling complex, heavy constructions ensure efficient execution, supported by detailed planning and close collaboration across teams.”
Esbjerg Port’s ability to manage such challenging projects stems from its ongoing development. Its infrastructure accommodates larger vessels, including RoRo ships, military vessels, and wind turbine carriers, positioning it as a linchpin for heavy transport in Europe.
The CVOW project, spearheaded by Dominion Energy, aims to install 176 turbines with a total capacity of 2.6 GW—enough to power 660,000 homes annually. It also promises a significant environmental impact, cutting five million tons of CO₂ emissions per year.
This ambitious endeavor underscores the necessity for global collaboration. Partners like CS Wind Offshore, SEMCO Maritime, and Esbjerg Port have pooled expertise to address the project’s complex challenges. CS Wind Offshore crafted the resilient jacket foundations, while SEMCO Maritime handled critical electrical installations, including emergency systems and inter-array cables.
Esbjerg Port’s role as a logistical hub highlights its strategic importance in realizing global-scale shipping projects. Jesper Bank added, “This project exemplifies how Esbjerg Port provides essential infrastructure for complex logistics and transport. We’re proud to contribute to the strong collaboration that makes projects like CVOW possible worldwide.”
