First U.S. Jones Act Rock Installation Vessel "Acadia" Delivered, Capable of Placing 20,000 Tonnes

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) has taken delivery of the Acadia from Hanwha Philly Shipyard. It is the first U.S.-flagged, Jones Act-compliant Subsea Rock Installation Vessel (SRIV) in the United States.

The order for the Acadia was placed in 2021, with the first steel cut in 2023, the keel laid in 2024, the vessel launched in the Delaware River in 2025, and sea trials completed in 2026. The project has bolstered the domestic supply chain, with the hull using steel from Ohio and providing high-paying jobs for workers in Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

The vessel is based on the S211 design by Ulstein Design and Solutions BV, measuring 140.5 meters in length and 34.1 meters in width, with accommodation for 45 people. Its propulsion system is compatible with biofuels and is equipped with battery and shore power systems for use while the vessel is in port. The ship is also fitted with a DP-2 dynamic positioning system, enabling operational precision in water depths of up to 65 meters.

The vessel is equipped with an inclined fallpipe system capable of transporting and installing up to 20,000 metric tonnes of rock to the seabed. These rocks are precisely placed to protect subsea infrastructure such as submarine communication cables, oil and gas pipelines, and offshore wind turbine foundations from the effects of strong currents, ship anchors, or wave erosion.

Following delivery, the Acadia will first sail to New York for Equinor's Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project, and will then move to Ørsted's Sunrise Wind project in New York.

Lasse Petterson, President and CEO of GLDD, stated that taking delivery of the vessel reflects the company's commitment to installing and protecting offshore energy infrastructure both domestically and internationally, and enables it to play a role in projects such as Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind, which provide power solutions for New York State.

After completing these two domestic contracts, GLDD plans to shift the vessel's operations to international waters. The Acadia will travel across the Atlantic to Europe to perform rock installation tasks for a major international offshore wind developer. This contract is expected to keep the specialized vessel busy for most of 2027.