Maersk Offshore Wind christens its new WTIV Maersk Viridis

Maersk Viridis. [Photo:Maersk Offshore Wind]

Following its delivery by Seatrium, Maersk Offshore last week officially christened its innovative Wind Turbine Installation vessel Maersk Viridis in a ceremony that was held on the main deck of the vessel itself.

The WTIV was formally named Maersk Viridis by her godmother, Charlotte Nørkjær Larsen, with a bottle of champagne smashed against the main crane pedestal, Maersk Viridis’ captain and crew then led guided tours around the 40,000 tonne vessel, providing guests with a rare opportunity to get up close to the first Wind Turbine Installation Vessel of this style, scale and design.

“Viridis” is Latin for “green,” and the name was chosen for the role the vessel will play in supporting the green transition.

Maersk Viridis is set to sail to the U.S. this week for its first assignment at Equinor’s Empire Wind project offshore New York. It features a Jones Act compliant feeder-based installation solution, enabled by a stabilizing system to hold feeder vessels for the transfer of offshore wind components, even in high sea states.

As we have reported previously, Maersk Offshore Wind has partnered with both Kirby and Chouest to provide the Jones Act feedering vessels that will support it.