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Heavy lift operations near completion at Portsmouth Marine Terminal
Sarens has reached the final phase of its scope on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, marking a key milestone for one of the largest offshore wind developments in the United States.
Working at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal since 2023, the company has handled the full onshore marshalling and engineering scope for Virginia International Terminals. The operation involved the load in and load out of 176 monopiles and 176 transition pieces, alongside pin piles, templates, and three offshore substation topsides, each weighing about 4000 tonnes.
In total, the project required around 740 self propelled modular transporter moves and 382 lifts using a CC8800 crawler crane. The scale is clear, but the challenge ran deeper. How do you keep such a high frequency operation running without delays over multiple years?
Engineered solutions maintain project flow
Sarens introduced engineered steel monopile supports to meet ground bearing limits while allowing full access to each component. This approach improved flexibility and helped maintain schedule discipline across the yard.
By the end of 2025, all monopile, template, pin pile, and topside operations were completed on schedule. Coordination between engineering and execution teams proved critical as volumes increased.
Meeting environmental deadlines offshore
Offshore installation added another layer of complexity. Whale migration restrictions limited piling activity between 31 October and 1 May each year.
Through close coordination between onshore and offshore teams, all monopiles were installed one month ahead of the deadline. This ensured continuity in offshore works and avoided disruption to the broader project timeline.
As of March 2026, only ten transition pieces remain before load out activities are completed, bringing Sarens’ role close to its end on a project that has tested both scale and precision.
