South Carolina-based Prysmian Cables and Systems USA has been awarded the contract for the eventual supply of the intra array and export power cables for Cape Wind’s offshore wind farm and New Jersey-based Caldwell Marine International has been awarded the contract for the installation of the underwater cables.
“I am pleased that Prysmian Cables and Systems USA and Caldwell Marine International will play important roles in helping build Cape Wind, they are capable companies that will help establish a domestic offshore wind supply chain,” said Cape Wind President Jim Gordon .
The onshore transmission cables would be manufactured by Prysmian at its High Voltage manufacturing facility based in Abbeville, South Carolina and installed by its New Jersey based installation team in a series of duct banks between the point of landfall and the electric grid interconnection at the NSTAR Barnstable substation. The duct banks will constructed by Falmouth-based Lawrence-Lynch Corp. under an agreement Cape Wind previously announced.
New Jersey-based Caldwell Marine International will install the submarine intra array and export cables using specialized vessels and equipment. For Caldwell Marine International, which has 30 years of experience in the installation of specialized underwater cable, offshore wind represents a new growth area for their company.
“We are thrilled to be expanding into the offshore wind sector and we are proud to help build Cape Wind, America’s first offshore wind farm,” said Rolando Acosta, President of Caldwell Marine International. “This is an opportunity for our company to become part of the supply chain of this new domestic offshore wind industry,” Acosta added.
“This announcement is a big step forward for Cape Wind and our members are looking forward to getting to work on constructing this important project,” said Gerard Dhooge, President, Boston & New England Maritime Trades Council, AFL-CIO.