2023 Ventus Award Winner

The deployment of the U.S. smart feeder barge concept by the DEME Offshore US/Foss Maritime Team debuted an innovative approach to installation that advanced the U.S. offshore wind industry, earning them the 2023 Viterna Award for Engineering Excellence. Their smart feeder barge approach, a world’s first, is driven by high-tech engineering, patented solutions, and special adaptations to both companies’ vessels for the Vineyard Wind 1 project. The partnership of DEME Offshore US and Foss Maritime couples their collective expertise on offshore wind and U.S.-related activities together, a textbook example of meaningful collaboration.

Their smart feeder allows for U.S. offshore wind projects to advance while maintaining Jones Act compliance. The feeder barge approach will bring labor and supply chain development to the market sooner and requires significantly less investment than building WTIV’s in the U.S., where shipbuilding costs are significantly higher. The feeder barge system will provide a path forward and significantly mitigate the time constraints associated with new build WTIV assets, which lead to higher installation costs and a higher levelized cost of energy passed on to the consumer.