Offshore Wind Ports and Vessels Course

The Offshore Wind Port and Vessels Training Course provides a comprehensive understanding of the port and vessel operations within the offshore wind industry. This course covers the essential elements of supporting logistics and transportation requirements for offshore wind projects. Participants will explore the core functions, challenges, and best practices associated with port and vessel management in the offshore wind sector.

Course Objectives:

- Gain insights into the role of ports and vessels in offshore wind project logistics.

- Explore different types of vessels used in offshore wind projects.

- Understand the infrastructure and operations required for offshore wind ports.

- Examine regulatory and safety considerations for port and vessel operations.

- Learn about project management and planning for port and vessel activities.

- Analyze real-world case studies and industry best practices in offshore wind port and vessel management.

Who Should Attend:

- Professionals in offshore wind logistics and transportation.

- Project managers, engineers, and developers in the offshore wind sector.

- Port and vessel operators and managers.

- Government officials and policymakers in the renewable energy sector.

- Anyone interested in gaining expertise in offshore wind port and vessel management.

Course Outline:

Day One

A) Introduction to the course

- Offshore Wind Ports - Contrast to Other Types of Ports

• Overview of the offshore wind industry.

• Factors influencing port location and selection.

B) Port Types and the Vessels that use them.

• Marshalling Ports Facility

• Storage Port Facility

• Manufacturing Port Facility

• Operation and Maintenance Facility 

• Service Port

C) US vs EU Ports

• A comparative analysis of offshore wind ports in the United States and the European Union.

D) Ports Construction for Fixed Bottom

• Strategic Ports Evaluation 

• Preliminary Assessment and Planning

• Environmental/ Geophysical

• Geotechnical & Intro to Load Bearing Capacity

• Permitting, Design and Procurement

• Construction/ Oversight

• Operation and Maintenance

E) Port Operations and Logistics

•  Port layout and design considerations for offshore wind.

•  Cargo handling and transportation within ports - Cranes and SPMTs.

•  Supply chain and logistics management for offshore wind projects.

•  Real-life examples of efficient port operations.

F) Ports Construction for Floating Wind

• Variations on the theme - what is different about floating wind

• Siting and Logistics for Floating Offshore Wind Ports

Day Two

A) Offshore Wind Vessels

• Overall Strategy: Feeder Barge vs Direct Install with WTIV

• Vessel Operations and Technology

B) Types of Offshore Wind Vessels - Deeper Dive

• Construction and Installation Vessels 

• Transportation Vessels and Barges

• Personnel and Equipment Transport - SOV/CTV

C) Floating Offshore Wind Vessels 

• Safety and Regulatory Considerations for offshore wind vessels.

• Regulatory and Safety Considerations

• Maritime regulations related to offshore wind projects.

• Safety protocols and best practices for port and vessel operations.

• Environmental impact assessments and compliance.

• Risk management in offshore wind port and vessel operations.

D)  The Special Case of Floating Offshore Wind and the Implications to Ports

• Types of Floating Wind

• Construction Considerations for Floating Wind

• Single Super-Port vs Distributed Cooperative Port Concepts

• Differences in Port Design and Function

• Costs and Timelines

E) Specifications: A deeper dive into the Construction of the Port

- Load Beaing Capacity

• Cranes

• SPMTs

• Other Transport

- Quayside and Bulkhead Design

• Bulkhead and Wall Types

• Berth

• Jack-up Pad Design

- Unpland Design

- Appurtenance Design

- Floating Wind Pot Design Special Case

F) Project Management and Planning

• Planning and scheduling port and vessel activities.

• Budgeting and cost control in port and vessel operations.

• Utilizing project management tools and software.

• Examples: Project management for offshore wind.

G) Case studies and Best Practice:

• Examining successful offshore wind port and vessel management through case studies.

• Learning from past projects.

• Identifying industry trends and future developments.

• Embracing best practices in the field.

Course Instructors

Jay Borkland

Director of Ports and Supply Chain Development, Avangrid

Mr. Borkland currently holds a Director position in Ports and Supply Chain Development at Avangrid Renewables in the U.S.  He is a Visiting Scholar at Tufts University in Massachusetts, teaching and conducting research in Offshore Wind and Sustainability. Mr. Borkland is also currently acting as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the U.S. Offshore Wind trade organization: The Business Network for Offshore Wind; and is an active participant in the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), where he is an editor and contributing author for UNGC document development for its Sustainability and Ocean Renewable Energy programs. 

Over the past 38 years, Mr. Borkland has been involved in large infrastructure and energy projects, with over two decades of that in the Offshore Wind sector of the Ocean Renewable Energy arena.  He was the team lead for the development and construction of the first-in-the-nation Offshore Wind marshalling port facility in the U.S. in Massachusetts, and has acted as lead and/or contributing author for the Offshore Wind Infrastructure Master Plans for the states of MA, VA, NY, CT, NJ, NC and MD.  Today he stays active assisting Avangrid Renewables develop multiple Wind Farms in the U.S.

Richard Baldwin

Senior Scientist, McAllister Marine Engineering

Mr. Baldwin currently holds a position of Senior Scientist at McAllister Marine Engineering and his practice focusses primarily on supporting the offshore wind (OSW) industry currently developing off of the coasts of the U.S., as well as addressing coastal area impacts associated with global climate change. He is a licensed Professional Geologist in New York and in Pennsylvania, and an American Institute of Professional Geologists Certified Professional Geologist. He is an Adjunct Professor in the Earth Sciences Department at State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Over the last 36 year, Mr. Baldwin has been providing subject matter expert (SME) expertise and consulting services associated with projects involving ports and harbors/waterway infrastructure studies, OSW development (including its local, national and international supply chains), OSW vessel logistics strategies, storm recovery and remedial actions, resiliency, flood-event evaluations, environmental investigations at industrial, private, federal and publicly-owned facilities. He has been involved in multiple state-led OSW ports studies and OSW strategic plans for a multitude of states including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Virgina. He has designed and implemented environmental investigations, remediation work plans, evasive species identification and eradication programs, bathymetric surveys, geotechnical evaluations, regulatory permit evaluation/acquisition, contractor evaluation/oversight, and public awareness and education. In his volunteer life, Mr. Baldwin as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician for the East Moriches Community Ambulance and is a Board Member of the Peconic Land Trust.

The course outline is subject to change and a detailed agenda will be shared after enrollment.