Foss Marine Terminal expected to open on New Bedford's waterfront this summer
NEW BEDFORD - The New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal on the waterfront under construction since last July will open this summer if all goes according to plan.
The new berthing facilities for a range of vessels including crew transfer vessels, service operation vessels and Foss Offshore Wind tug boats and barges are designed to support the offshore wind industry.
Formerly an Eversource Energy/Sprague Oil property, the terminal is the first Foss Offshore Wind project to come to fruition as part of a multi-decade strategy to service the growing industry on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, according to a press release.
Collaboration with city of New Bedford
“The successful start to the terminal was only made possible through a close collaboration with the city of New Bedford as the renewable energy sector becomes a significant contributor to the local economy and a power source for hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents,” Foss Offshore Wind President Joel Whitman said in the release. “We’re in the beginning phases of developing an industry that will bring new technologies and new jobs with new skillsets to the area that will roll out across the country as more projects take root. It’s a special opportunity for Foss and the New Bedford community to get in on the ground level of such a prominent and beneficial emerging industry.”
The complete buildout of the 27-acre marine terminal property will feature office space for project teams, crew marshaling facilities, workspaces and a marine coordination center for technicians supporting the Massachusetts offshore wind industry for the next 30 years.
How is the Foss Terminal working with Vineyard Wind?
Foss Offshore Wind, a division of Saltchuk Marine, was founded in 2020 to service North America’s emerging wind energy sector and globally. It’s a leading provider of installation, laydown, supply and transportation services for the industry.
The terminal is under construction to support Vineyard Wind’s first commercial offshore wind project and future East Coast projects, according to the release.
Vineyard Wind 1 project will generate clean, renewable, affordable energy for over 400,000 homes and businesses across Massachusetts by reducing carbon emissions by over 1.6 million tons per year.
Initially, Foss will offer laydown services for the 450-foot-tall mono towers and more than 300-foot-long wind turbine blades.
Foss is currently in negotiations with multiple partners to secure the new terminal for all phases of construction and servicing the offshore wind turbines upon completion.
Crews of up to 90 specialized workers are anticipated to circulate through the terminal every two weeks in addition to the regular flow of port workers.
Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @kgallreporter. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New terminal will service offshore wind out of New Bedford
