The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the use of U.S.-flagged and foreign-flagged vessels in offshore wind projects and the extent to which offshore wind development has spurred investment in the U.S. maritime industry. The report, requested by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, found that selected offshore wind projects used a mix of U.S. and foreign vessels, with some U.S. shipbuilding investments occurring in response to project demand. Under the Jones Act, vessels transporting merchandise between points in the United States must be built in the U.S., registered under the U.S. flag, and largely crewed by domestic mariners, a requirement that shapes the vessel fleets available for offshore wind construction and operations. The report assessed characteristics of selected offshore wind vessels, including the Charybdis (the first Jones Act-compliant wind turbine installation vessel) and the ECO Liberty (a U.S.-built service operations vessel), and examined how federal policies affect U.S. shipbuilding investments in the offshore wind sector. The findings are relevant to understanding the maritime infrastructure supporting offshore wind development and the potential economic benefits to domestic shipbuilding and maritime employment. More information can be found here.
