Fugro deploys additional vessels for site characterisation on US East Coast

Fugro has mobilised two additional vessels off the coast of New Jersey to support its ongoing site characterisation work for Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, a joint venture between Shell New Energies US and EDF Renewables North America.

Operating in the Atlantic Shores lease area since May, Fugro now has three vessels on site with a fourth to be added later this month.

The project involves collection of high resolution geophysical, benthic, and shallow geotechnical data within the lease area and along two proposed export cable routes. These data will be processed and analysed to characterise site conditions, including bathymetry, seafloor morphology, subsurface geology, environmental and biological sites, seafloor obstructions, soil conditions and archaeological resources.

Atlantic Shores will use this information to safely design, permit, and install future wind farm facilities, which could generate up to 2,500 MW of renewable energy for residents along the mid-Atlantic.

Weather permitting, the field programme will continue through the autumn and winter.