| dc.description.abstract | This thesis explores the regulatory and strategic impacts of the Jones Act on the transport and installation of wind turbine generators in the U.S. offshore wind industry. The research specifically addresses two primary questions:
How does the Jones Act impact the transport and installation of wind turbine generators in the U.S. offshore wind industry?
What is the best overall solution to comply with Jones Act, for transport and installation of wind turbine generators in the U.S.?
The U.S. has significant ambitions to expand its offshore wind capacity, with a federal target to deploy 30 gigawatts by 2030. The Jones Act, a century-old maritime law, presents both challenges and opportunities in this context. It requires that transportation between U.S. ports is performed by U.S. flagged vessels, which has significant impact on the transport and installation of wind turbine generators for offshore wind farm developments in the U.S. This study identifies two main methods for transport and installation of wind turbine generators:
U.S. flagged Wind Turbine Installation Vessel
Foreign flagged Wind Turbine Installation Vessel with feeder barges
The thesis is based on a qualitative method using semi structured interviews with four key strategic stakeholders from the industry. This research is organized by using the Gioia method and supported by established guidelines about how to do qualitative research and case studies.
The thesis concludes that neither of the strategies are clearly better than the other across all aspects. The strategic decisions must consider specific project needs, stakeholder priorities, and the regulatory landscape. However, based on the favorable operational workability, this thesis outlines the U.S. flagged installation vessel as the best solution in the long-term perspective, despite the higher upfront capital investment. On the other hand, the foreign-flagged WTIVs with feeder barges present a lower upfront investment but may lead to increased operational complexities and challenges. | |
