WILLEMSTAD – The new offshore wind turbine installation vessel Maersk Viridis arrived at Mega Pier 2 in Curaçao on Thursday during its journey to the United States, where it will be used to install offshore wind turbines near New York.
The vessel had already spent several days offshore near Curaçao before entering the port of Willemstad on Thursday morning, according to ship tracking data. The Maersk Viridis is scheduled to leave Curaçao on July 23.
The Danish-flagged vessel departed Singapore on March 26 and traveled via Toamasina, Madagascar, and Brazil before reaching Curaçao.
Advanced offshore technology
The approximately 40,000-ton vessel was specifically designed to install the latest generation of offshore wind turbines. Its main crane has a lifting capacity of 1,900 tons and a hook height of 180 meters, allowing it to install turbines with capacities of 15 megawatts or more.
The Maersk Viridis was built by Seatrium in Singapore based on a design by GustoMSC. After completing sea trials, the vessel was delivered to Maersk Offshore Wind at the end of February. Its official naming ceremony took place on March 12.
The installation vessel operates together with smaller supply ships that transport wind turbine components. A stabilization system allows components to be safely transferred at sea, even in higher waves. This reduces the need for the installation vessel to repeatedly return to port during offshore operations.
First project: Empire Wind 1
The Maersk Viridis’ first assignment will be the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project developed by energy company Equinor. The wind farm is located approximately 25 to 48 kilometers southeast of Long Island, New York.
The project will consist of 54 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 15 megawatts. Initial electricity production is expected by the end of 2026, with the full wind farm scheduled to become operational in 2027.
The vessel’s stop in Curaçao is unrelated to offshore wind development on the island. Curaçao is serving as a logistical stop during the vessel’s long voyage to the United States.