GIF, EEW Sign Block Island Jacket Deal

Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc., through its subsidiary Gulf Island L.L.C., has signed a contract for the fabrication of five Jacket/Piles for the Block Island Wind Farm, a shallow water Wind Turbine project located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Rhode Island being developed by Deepwater Wind.

For the delivery of steel jackets, decks and piles, the Louisiana-based company has teamed with Germany’s EEW.

Kirk Meche, President and CEO, stated, “We are excited to be a part of the Block Island Wind Farm, as the industry continues to explore alternative energy solutions to meet the increasing demands for power. Gulf Island has been associated with many projects that are first of a kind and while these structures are traditional in nature, the project is the first offshore wind project for the U.S. and we are honored to be a part of this. We look to establish a lasting relationship with Deepwater Wind.”

As part of the agreement, the duo will subcontract work to Speciality Dividing Services (SDS), where trained welders and other local tradesmen and women at SDS will fabricate some of the foundations components at Quonset.

“The unique partnership of Rhode Islanders working alongside our European and Gulf of Mexico contractors will mean local workers can attain the skills and experience they’ll need to support our larger projects in the future,” said Deepwater chief executive Jeff Grybowksi.

Fabrication work will start early next year at GIF’s facilities located in Houma, Louisiana, while the delivery of five 1,500-tone foundations is scheduled for summer 2015.