The first American-made offshore wind installation vessel is ready to work, just as the Trump administration is making moves to shut the industry down.
The Charybdis, a turbine installation ship named for the sea monster from Greek mythology, arrived at Portsmouth Marine Terminal in Virginia last week. The $715 million vessel is set to begin erecting turbines next month at the country’s largest marine wind farm, named the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project.
The Charybdis’ arrival marks a significant logistical and symbolic milestone for the U.S. offshore wind sector at a moment when the industry is under siege from President Donald Trump.
The industry has suffered for years from a global shortage of installation vessels. The problem is especially acute in the United States, where a 1920s-era marine shipping law prevents foreign flagged vessels from entering American ports. Developers have responded by employing a complicated system through which components are delivered to U.S., assembled onshore and then shipped out to project areas on barges. That has increased costs and prolonged construction times.
