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Portsmouth Marine Terminal News

01 Feb 2024

Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Farm Gets Final Federal Blessing

© Fokke Baarssen / Adobe Stock

Dominion Energy, the developer of Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) farm, has secured the last two major federal approvals needed to begin the construction of the 2.6 GW project.The approvals are keeping the largest offshore wind farm in the United States on schedule to generate clean, renewable energy to power up to 660,000 homes once fully constructed.The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) provided its final approval of CVOW's Construction and Operations Plan (COP), which authorizes construction offshore.The U.S.

26 Sep 2023

First Monopiles for Giant U.S. Offshore Wind Project Set Sail

Credit:  EEW SPC

German offshore wind monopile maker EEW SPC said Monday that the first eight monopiles for the Dominion Energy Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project in the U.S. were loaded at the Rostock quayside in Germany, and set sail for the U.S. on September 21, 2023.In preparation for RoRo loading, the monopiles were lifted into the transport cradle using the Strand Jack system. Now aboard the carrier deck, the foundations are on their way to Portsmouth Marine Terminal in Portsmouth, Va.…

25 Sep 2023

U.S. BOEM Completes Environmental Review of Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project

Credit: Alex/AdobeStock

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) said Monday it had completed its environmental review of the proposed Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) commercial project.“The completion of our environmental review marks another step towards a clean energy future—one that benefits communities and co-exists with other ocean users,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “The best available science and knowledge shared by Tribes, other government agencies, local communities, ocean users…

25 Jan 2023

Onshore Funding for US Offshore Wind

© Ian Dyball / Adobe Stock

Most of the media coverage of offshore wind development in the United States focuses on the leases of the offshore areas where the wind turbines will be located. However, equally important is the landside dimension of these projects, including the manufacture, installation, maintenance and operation of the turbines. Several awards made in the last two rounds of funding under the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) show how offshore wind now offers an additional direction of port development for which funding is available.

16 Aug 2022

Skanska to Build Offshore Wind Staging Port in Portsmouth, Virginia, USA

Credit: Skanska

Sweden-based Skanska, one of the country's largest construction firms, has signed a contract with the Virginia Port Authority to rebuild 72 acres of the Portsmouth Marine Terminal in Portsmouth, Virginia, USA. The project will redevelop approximately 72 acres of the 287-acre Portsmouth Marine Terminal for use as an offshore wind staging port which will improve 1,500 feet of an existing 3,540-foot wharf.Skanska will include the contract worth $223 million, about SEK 2.3 billion…

09 Jun 2022

The Port Logistics Challenges of Offshore Wind

Photo: Elaine Maslin

Some equations just don’t add up. For example, storing 500 offshore wind turbine blades at a site with only space for 400 (and that’s only if you don’t store the other key elements required to build a full turbine). Elaine Maslin visited Siemens Gamesa’s blade manufacturing facility in Hull, UK, to find out more.Storage space is becoming a major challenge that’s looming for ports involved in the fast-evolving offshore wind industry. It’s already becoming a challenge for Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy at its blade manufacturing facility in Hull, on England’s east coast.

22 Feb 2022

Seajacks Opens Operational Base in Virginia Beach

A Seajacks' jack-up unit ©Seajacks (file image)

Offshore wind installation services company Seajacks UK, as of recently a subsidiary of Eneti, has established an operational base in the City of Virginia Beach, Va.Seajacks has been providing Blue Ocean Energy Marine, a Dominion Energy-owned company, with support services relating to the construction and operation of the first Jones Act compliant offshore wind turbine installation vessel, Charybdis, seen as a key vessel for the development of the U.S. offshore wind industry.The…

23 Dec 2021

Over $241 Million in MARAD Grants Awarded for US Ports

© Matt Gush / Adobe Stock

More than $241 million in discretionary grant funding has been awarded for projects to improve U.S. port facilities, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced on Thursday.The grants, which will go to 25 projects in 19 states and one territory through the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), are intended to help strengthen America's supply chains to meet heightened demand and help address inflationary pressures, the DOT said.“U.S. maritime ports play a critical role in our supply chains,” said U.S.

05 Nov 2021

Dominion Energy Files Plans for 2.6GW CVOW Project to Virginia Authorities

Credit: Dominion Energy

U.S. company Dominion Energy expects to file plans later on Friday with the Virginia State Corporation Commission for approval to construct the 2.6-gigawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) commercial project, which will generate enough clean energy to power up to 660,000 homes."The filing keeps the project on schedule and builds on recent economic development announcements, such as the Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy turbine blade factory at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal and Dominion Energy's investment in the only U.S.

05 Nov 2021

DEME Offshore, Prysmian Win Largest Ever U.S. Offshore Wind Installation Deal

A DEME Offshore installation vessel - Credit: DEME Offshore

Offshore installation contractor DEME Offshore has said it has secured a +$1.1 billion Balance of Plant (BoP) contract for the construction of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project in a consortium with Prysmian. The contract, with a total value amounting to +$1.9 Billion, has been awarded by Dominion Energy Virginia, a subsidiary of Dominion Energy Inc., to a consortium, made up of DEME Group and Prysmian.According to DEME Offshore, the agreement is the largest offshore wind installation contract ever awarded in the U.S.

25 Oct 2021

Siemens Gamesa to Open Offshore Wind Turbine Blade Plant in Virginia

Credit: Siemens Gamesa

Offshore wind turbine maker Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy will open the first offshore wind turbine blade facility in the United States.The company on Monday held a launch ceremony with representatives from state and local government authorities and wind industry partners in Virginia."This is also the first commitment by a global offshore wind turbine manufacturer in a U.S.-based supply chain," Siemens Gamesa said.Siemens Gamesa plans to develop more than 80 acres/32 hectares at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal in Portsmouth…

12 Oct 2021

Racing for 30GW—and a Piece of the US Offshore Wind Pie

© DJ / Adobe Stock

“30 by 30” is the rallying cry for all concerned with the burgeoning U.S. offshore wind business. In Spring 2021, the Secretaries of Energy, Interior and Commerce resolved to deploy 30 gigawatts (GW) of electricity generated from offshore turbines by 2030. Consultants McKinsey, in a recent article frame the value proposition for this clean fuel source, writing: “During the industry’s 30-year evolution, costs have fallen so sharply that offshore wind now compares favorably with competing energy sources.” For vessel owners, renewable energy brings opportunity.The thrust of near-term U.S.

12 Apr 2021

A Favorable Fetch for US Offshore Wind

© Fokke / Adobe Stock

Offshore wind caught a favorable gust with the 2020 election of Joe Biden, and the following breeze from the early 2021 reconfiguration of the U.S. Senate toward Democrats. Though widely touted as a growth engine for maritime businesses (as well as shoreside trades), the latter years of the Trump administration seemed to see delay after delay.The class society DNV has been involved in offshore wind since its outset in the early 1990s, and now has 2,000 energy experts working in its efforts supporting this power source.

07 Apr 2021

Favorable Offshore Winds Blowing from the Biden Administration

© pkawasaki/AdobeStock

As part of his Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (EO 14008)—issued on the first day he took office—President Biden made significant commitments to renewable energy. These commitments include collaborating with multiple federal agencies in the United States and promoting critical industry support for the acquisition of electric vehicles for the federal fleet, as well as rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, the landmark international agreement signed in 2015 to limit global warming.

19 Mar 2020

Port of Virginia Providing Berth Space for Cruise Ships

Norwegian Bliss (Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line)

The Port of Virginia said it has opened its doors to cruise ships idled by the coronavirus pandemic.Since the outbreak of the virus and the cruise industry’s voluntary suspension of U.S. operations, empty cruise ships have been seeking temporary berth opportunities at multiple ports, with Florida taking the greatest share of the vessels. For a cruise ship, it is more economical to idle at a port rather than at sea because it does not burn as much fuel and provides easy access…

29 Jan 2020

Virginia Port Signs Pact with Ørsted

Danish energy giant Ørsted has entered into an agreement with the Port of Virginia to lease a portion of the Portsmouth Marine Terminal for offshore wind staging materials and equipment.According to Virginia governor's office, Orsted could use the site for its work on the Coastal Virginia offshore wind project, which it is developing with Dominion Energy, as well as for staging materials and equipment for projects up and down the US east coast.Once executed, the lease will not expire before 2026, meaning that it covers a period in which Ørsted plans to install at least 3 GW of wind energy in the US.“This is a big step towards making Virginia a leader in wind energy and offshore wind manufacturing,” said Governor Ralph Northam.

09 Mar 2018

Virginia Port’s Cargo Numbers Up

Despite a slight dip in volume of .7 percent in February, The Port of Virginia’s fiscal year 2018 cargo volumes are up nearly 4 percent, or nearly 69,000 TEUs. “February is a short month and our volume was relatively static, in a year-on-year comparison,” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority (VPA). “January featured two snowstorms, which had an impact on our performance, yet we continue to perform in-line with our fiscal-year volume forecast. In February, the port processed 218,729 TEUs, which is .7 percent, or 1,647 fewer units when compared with last February. Cargo volumes at Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT) and Virginia Inland Port (VIP) and were up 45 and 4 percent, respectively.

04 Feb 2017

Richmond Express Starts Operation at RMT

The Port of Virginia’s new barge – the Richmond Express arrived in the Norfolk Harbor and scheduled to sail Sunday and be at Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT) Monday, Feb. This new barge helps reduce congestion on I-64 and wear-and-tear on the road by taking trucks off of that roadway and moving the cargo by barge. Thus far into fiscal year 2017 (began July 1, 2016), 11,225 containers have moved between Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT) and the Norfolk Harbor by barge, a 41 percent increase when compared with the same period in fiscal year 2016. This equates to 22,450 fewer round-trip, truck trips on regional roads/highways/intestates. Further, the configuration of the new barge gives the port flexibility to move refrigerated containers, which is important to owners of cold cargo.

11 Jun 2014

Coast Guard Escorts Portsmouth - Norfolk Tunnel Tow

Crews aboard two 25-foot Response Boat – Smalls, from Coast Guard Station Curtis Bay, Maryland, are to be seen here escorting the tugboats 'Honor' and 'Captain William Landry' near Sparrows Point, as they tow a section of the Midtown Tunnel that will connect Portsmouth with Norfolk, Virginia. The Coast Guard explains that the tunnel section is being towed down the Chesapeake Bay to the Portsmouth Marine Terminal, where it will await placement in the Elizabeth River this fall.

21 Apr 2004

New Va. Container Terminal to Prepare Mid-Atlantic Region for Growth

APM Terminals North America Inc. announced plans to build a container terminal located on the Elizabeth River in Portsmouth, Virginia. Dredging is expected to start later this year, and construction of the terminal is expected to be completed in 2007. The facility will feature 4000 ft. (1219 meters) of deepwater berth space (four times the current amount), and serve as a Mid-Atlantic platform for future growth. Many high profile international companies have significant operations in the region and others are actively eyeing major distribution centers for the future. The amount of cargo through Hampton Roads is expected to at least double by 2020, in part due to the area’s attraction as a major distribution center.

15 Sep 2014

Portsmouth Marine Terminal Reopens Today

The Port of Virginia marks an important milestone Monday 14th September as Portsmouth Marine Terminal (PMT), closed for nearly three years, reopens to cargo operations. At 8 a.m. on Monday, the terminal will begin receiving trucks carrying containers for export. “Sustained growth in our container business necessitates PMT’s return to service and is a sign of health for The Port of Virginia,” said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority (VPA). The first vessel call is scheduled for early October and from that point forward the 30-acre operation will process between 75,000 and 100,000 containers annually. The operation will be “wheeled,” or containers-onchassis; there will be no stacked containers except for those units in the empty yard.

13 Nov 2014

FMC Commissioner Doyle Weighs In

FMC Commissioner William P. Doyle

Commissioner William P. Doyle's remarks at the Commission Briefing on Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Port Congestion Forum, November 13 2014 in Baltimore, MD. On October 1, 2014, Commissioner Lidinsky and I hosted the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Port Congestion Forum at the World Trade Center in Baltimore, Maryland. I want to thank all the FMC staff for their participation in setting up and managing the day’s event. David Tubman and Jewel Jennings-Wright worked tirelessly for weeks helping to locate attendees and participants. Thank you both.

21 Apr 2014

Grounded Bulker Refloated off Virginia Beach

A bulk carrier ship was refloated Friday morning after running aground near Virginia Beach. (USCG photo)

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) said it oversaw the refloating of the 751-foot bulk carrier, Ornak, Friday. At approximately 9:35 a.m., the Ornak was refloated offshore of the Virginia Beach Resort and Convention Center and repositioned to the Lynnhaven anchorage. Agencies involved in the removal of the grounded ship were Svitzer, the contracted salvage company, McAllister towing, the Virginia Pilots and the Coast Guard. "Freeing this vessel from the beach was truly a collaborative effort," said Capt. John Little, the Captain of the Port of Hampton Roads.