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Building a robust and resilient infrastructure for the U.S. offshore wind industry.

Ports and vessels are the backbone of the U.S. offshore wind industry. Understanding the improvements needed for the nation’s port infrastructure, as well as ensuring the availability and capacity of vessels, will be critical over the next decade as more turbines are installed in U.S. waters. As the pipeline of projects continues to grow, the industry needs to come together to determine logistics to affordably and efficiently receive, transport, hold, and install turbine components.

Join us in New Orleans to discuss and learn about the many port and vessel business opportunities rapidly unfolding in the U.S. offshore wind energy industry.

pricing

REGISTRATION

Non-Member

$695

Member

$545

Speaker

$395

Government

$395

Summit Agenda

The Port & Vessel Summit takes place September 27-28, with an opening reception the evening of September 26. The complete Summit Agenda is below. 

Monday, September 26

4:00pm – 6:00pm
Welcome Reception

Blue Moon Taphouse, 333 Waterside Dr #108, Norfolk, VA 23510

Tuesday September 27

7:30am – 8:30am
Registration Open & Networking Breakfast
Speaker:
8:30am – 8:50am
Welcome Remarks & Market Overview

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Speaker:
  • John Begala, Vice President of Federal and State Policy, Business Network for Offshore Wind
  • Matt Smith, Director of Offshore Wind Business Development, Hampton Roads Alliance
8:50am – 9:10am
Keynote Remarks

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Speakers:
  • Joshua Bennett, Vice President for Offshore Wind, Dominion Energy
9:10am – 9:55am
Financing America's Port Upgrades for 30 GW of Wind Energy and Beyond

It’s no secret that America’s aging ports need billions in new investments to scale up and meet the multiple demand of the U.S. offshore wind industry, including the federal goal of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030. New Jersey and New York have already invested hundreds of millions in their port infrastructure, but that option is not available to all. States must get creative with funding options from the federal government, private sector, or a public-private partnership. A panel of industry experts will discuss financing options for upgrading the nation’s port infrastructure.

Speakers:
  • Moderator: Jay Borkland, Director of Ports & Supply Chain, Avangrid Renewables
  • Sybille Andaur, Vice President, Senior Vice President, Ocean Industries, DNB Bank
  • Maeve Bartlett, Senior Counsel, U.S. Department of Transportation
  • Ian Gansler, Manager of Energy, Resilience, and Sustainability Policy, American Association of Port Authorities
  • Cathie Vick, Chief Development & Public Affairs Officer, Virginia Port Authority
10:00am – 10:55am
Early Lessons of O&M Maritime Logistics

During construction, and for decades after a wind farm is completed, a logistical supply chain is needed to help keep a wind farm operational. Vessels need repair, crews need replenishment, and equipment needs to be marshaled and stored. With seven turbines in operation, that support supply chain already exists. Yet as the U.S. offshore wind industry expands, what early lessons can be learned as the industry goes from installing and servicing seven turbines to over 2,000?

Speakers:
  • Moderator: Will Fediw, Vice President, Industry & Government Affairs, Virginia Maritime Association
  • Ed Anthes-Washburn, Managing Director/ Partner, Coast Line Transfers LLC
  • Bobby Clinton, Port Compliance Officer, McAllister Towing of Virginia
  • Peter Hansen, Director of Operations, Capes Shipping Agencies  
  • Vance Hull, Director of Business Development, Colonna’s Shipyard, Inc.
  • Captain Jennifer Stockwell, Commander, Sector Virginia, United States Coast Guard
10:55am – 11:15am
Networking Break
11:15am – 12:00pm
Solving the WTIV Shortage: Financing or Innovation?

Wind turbine installation vessels (WTIVs), critical for the deployment of offshore wind farms, are in short supply. With a price tag in the mid-nine figures for U.S.- built WTIVs, financing a new build has proven difficult in the U.S. market and rising global demand threatens the availability of foreign-built vessels. Industry experts will debate whether new financing options (federal or state support), or new construction techniques and designs are the best solution to increase the cost-effectiveness of these critical vessels. 

Speakers:
  • Moderator: Charlie Papavizas, Partner & Chair, Maritime, Winston & Strawn LLP
  • Jan M. Flores, Vice President, NETSCo
  • Andy Geissbuehler, CEO, Atlantic Power Transmission LLC
  • Brett Hewitt, Senior Vice President, Specialty Markets Marine Manager, Wells Fargo Equipment Finance
  • Keegan Plaskon, Director, Business Development – Eastern North America, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
  • Amanda Schoen, Director of Industry Relations, Equinor
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Networking and Exhibition Lunch
  • Sponsored by Winston & Strawn LLP
Speakers:
  • Publish when ready 
1:00pm – 1:20pm
Keynote Remarks

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Speaker:
  • U.S. Congressman Bobby Scott, Virginia’s 3rd District
1:20pm – 2:05pm
Readying American Shipyards for the Coming Vessel Demand

Scaling up the U.S. offshore wind industry will require hundreds of vessels – but do America’s shipyards have the capacity to meet this demand? Experts from the nation’s leading shipyards will explore options for expanding capacity, including private and public funding.

Speakers:
  • Moderator: Emily Huggins Jones, Partner, Locke Lord LLP
  • Jeff Bukoski, President, St. Johns Shipbuilding
  • David Gilmore, Director, Office of Marine Financing, MARAD
  • Michael Pinkham, Sales & Marketing, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding 
  • Jim Strock, Independent Consultant supporting General Dynamics – National Steel and Shipbuilding Company
2:05pm – 2:40pm
Networking Break
2:40 pm – 3:25pm
Closing the Loop: Bringing the Net-Zero Supply Chain to Ports & Vessels

Pressure is building on project developers to achieve a zero-emission supply chain, including ports and vessels. The market is already seeing hybrid and alternative fuel crew transfer vessels (CTVs) and service operation vessels (SOVs)and federal and state governments are unlocking funding to green port operations. A panel of industry experts will share an overview of what’s powering new vessels and what stakeholders will expect from ports to help achieve a net-zero supply chain.

Speakers:
  • Moderator: Laura Hayes Chalk, Business Development Coordinator, City of Virginia Beach
  • Charles Donadio, President & CEO, Atlantic Wind Transfers
  • Loulan Pitre, Partner, Kelly Hart Attorneys at Law 
  • Joe Tirone, Shareholder – Head of Power & Renewables Team, Baker Donelson
3:25 pm – 3:35 pm
Networking Break

Sponsored by Netsco

Speakers:
  • Publish when ready 
3:40 pm – 4:25pm
Project Logistics For Port Marshaling Hubs

Two dozen East Coast ports. 27 wind projects. At least a dozen manufacturing centers in the U.S. alone. Lacking the massive ports of Europe, the U.S. industry will instead need to rely on a sophisticated logistical system to reach 30 GW in the next seven years. As the center of this effort will be America’s marshalling hubs. Experts will talk about the state of the marshalling hub industry, how they come to life, and what the business opportunities are for suppliers.

Speakers:
  • Moderator: Jennifer Palestrant, Director of Business Development for Offshore Wind for North and South America, Fugro
  • Jennifer Downing, Executive Director, New Bedford Ocean Cluster
  • G.T. Hollett, Director – Offshore Wind, Dominion Energy
  • John O’Keeffe, Head of Renewables – Americas, Blue Water Shipping
  • Andrew Saunders, President, New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal, LLC
  • Dirk Verwimp, Senior Sales Advisor & Business Development, Sarens
4:25 pm – 4:45pm
Keynote Speaker

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  • Rear Admiral Ann C. Phillips, MARAD, U.S. Department Of Transportation
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Networking & Exhibition Reception
Speakers:
  • Publish when ready 

Wednesday, September 28

Sessions will be taking place from 9:00 a.m. CST to noon on February 4.

7:30am – 8:30am
Networking Breakfast
  • Sponsored by Jacobs
8:20am – 8:30am
Recap & Welcome Back
Speaker:
  • Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez, Senior Director for Policy & Outreach, Business Network for Offshore Wind
8:30am – 8:50AM
Keynote Remarks

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Speakers:
  • John D. Porcari, Former White House Port & Supply Chain Envoy and Former Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation 
8:50am – 9:40am
Feedering in the U.S. Offshore Wind Industry: Is it Inevitable?

Feedering was first used as a system to utilize foreign-flagged wind turbine installation vessels (WTIVs) in U.S waters, but the realities of the U.S. port system may make their use the norm. A panel of industry leaders will share their views on the future of feedering and what the industry hopes to learn from the experiences of Vineyard Wind. 

Speakers:
  • Moderator: Julian Fraize, Program Manager, National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium
  • Greg Dolan, Ports Manager, Avangrid Renewables
  • Carly Hagger, Installation Engineer, Atlantic Shores
  • Jan Klaassen, Business Unit Director, DEME Offshore USA
  • Mike Rampolla, Director of Project Management, Crowley New Energy
  • Michael J. Saint James, Principal Consultant, Saint James Marine
9:45am – 10:35am
Remote Vessels and Automated Equipment

Remotely operated vessels (ROVs) and drones are expected to play a major role in offshore wind development, from surveying and construction to operations and maintenance. With the expected shortage of vessels to build out 30 GW of wind energy by 2030, can ROVs and drones fill the gaps? Industry experts will speak to the newest trends and cutting edge-technologies that will soon be servicing wind projects in the U.S.

Speakers:
  • Moderator: Dustin Varnell, Business Development, North America Offshore Wind, Osbit Limited
  • Philip Bourque, Senior Director of Global Business Development, Sea Machines
  • Dan Jakab, Practice Director, Maritime & Utilities, DroneUp
  • David Jones, Bathymetry Account Manager, Saildrone, Inc.
  • Elizabeth Kretovic, Director – Business Development North America Offshore Wind, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
10:35am – 11:05am
Networking Break

Sponsored by Netsco

11:05am – 11:55am
Early Lessons from europe: Port Strategies for Floating Offshore Wind

While the U.S. is just building out the port infrastructure needed for the first wave of fixed-bottom turbines, the industry must also look ahead and start planning ports to accommodate floating turbine technology needs. Floating offshore wind projects will require uniquely large areas for staging and marshaling. Panelists will identify and discuss lessons we can learn from Europe’s current floating offshore wind development.

Speakers:
  • Moderator: Jack Haynie, Offshore Wind and Renewables Lead, Baird & Associates
  • Brandon Burke, Managing Consultant, Ramboll
  • Serene Hamsho, Director of Technology and Innovation, Hexicon North America
  • Sean Jessup, Senior Port Planner, Moffatt & Nichol
  • Joe Shinkwin, Civil Engineer, Mainstream Renewable Power
11:55am – 12:10pm
Introduction: DOE's Floating Offshore Wind Readiness (FLOWIN) Prize

While the U.S. is just building out the port infrastructure needed for the first wave of fixed-bottom turbines, the industry must also look ahead and start planning ports to accommodate floating turbine technology needs. Floating offshore wind projects will require uniquely large areas for staging and marshaling. Panelists will identify and discuss lessons we can learn from Europe’s current floating offshore wind development.

Speakers:
  • Nathan McKenzie, Technology Manager – Offshore Wind (R&D), U.S. Department of Energy
12:10pm – 12:25pm
Closing Remarks – Key Points and Future Milestones

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Speakers:
  • John Begala, Vice President for State and Federal Policy, Business Network for Offshore Wind
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Lunch & Learn - DOE's Floating Offshore Wind Readiness (FLOWIN) Prize

This session will focus on the exciting opportunities for U.S. supply chain development, including ports and vessel needs, as large-scale floating offshore wind projects are planned and deployed in the coming years. In addition to an overview from an industry representative, Department of Energy (DOE) will provide details on its recently announced $6.85M “FLOWIN” prize, and the Business Network will explain how they are available, in partnership with DOE, to support prize competitors in building supply chain networks appropriate to their needs.

Speakers:
  • John Begala, Vice President for State and Federal Policy, Business Network for Offshore Wind
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Hotel & Venue

Hyatt Regency New Orleans
601 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70113

Accommodations in New Orleans

The 2023 OSW Port & Vessel Summit will be held at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans. The Network has secured a block of discounted rooms for Port & Vessel attendees. Click here to book your room at the discounted rate of $249/ night.

Port & Vessel Summit

Sponsors

Media Partners

Summit Sponsorship

To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Denielle Christensen or Maryanne Jefferson at the Business Network for Offshore Wind. Download our Sponsorship Opportunities PDF to learn more.

Summit Attendance

Professionals came together at the OSW O&M / Health & Safety Summit for two days of workshops focused on operations and maintenance, health and safety, and data industries. View and download the Attendance List PDF

Covid-19

Health & Safety Guidelines

The Business Network for Offshore Wind is firmly committed to the health and safety of our attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors – your health and well-being are our number one priority.  Please review the Business Network for Offshore Wind’s COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidelines detailed on the Network website. 

SPONSORS
Mentors and CEOs

Conference speakers

David Moyes
CEO, Colibri
Jayden Morris
Graphic Designer, Parrot
Richard Mortensen
Sales Executive, Finch
Felix Moyer
Customer Happinness, Herrons
Richard Oreta
Managing Director, Falcon
Sanit Khan
Sales Manager, Plover
Raymond Wright
Scrum Master, Eagle
Martha Hill
Sales Executive, Hummingbird

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