Houston – Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, the largest provider of dredging services in the United States, has taken delivery of Acadia, a cutting-edge Jones Act-compliant subsea rock installation vessel, from Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The delivery of Acadia marks a significant milestone in Great Lakes’ strategic expansion into the offshore energy sector and reinforces the Company’s commitment to supporting U.S. and international energy security ambitions.
Following delivery, Acadia will mobilize to begin work on Equinor’s Empire Wind 1 project in offshore New York. Upon completion, the vessel is expected to proceed directly to Ørsted’s Sunrise Wind project, also located offshore New York, supporting the buildout of offshore wind infrastructure along the U.S. East Coast. These are among the few major U.S. offshore wind projects still under construction after the Trump administration moved to halt new offshore wind development.
Upon completion of the two U.S. projects, the Acadia will mobilize to Europe to begin rock installation for a major offshore wind developer, keeping the Acadia utilized for the majority of 2027.
“Taking delivery of Acadia represents a transformative moment for Great Lakes and underscores our dedication to installing and protecting domestic and international offshore energy infrastructure,” said Lasse Petterson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company. “This highly specialized vessel positions us at the forefront of subsea rock installation in the U.S. and international markets and enables us to play a critical role in major projects such as Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind that offer a reliable, affordable, clean energy solution to the State of New York.”
Constructed by Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Acadia is the first U.S.-flagged, Jones Act-compliant subsea rock installation vessel of its kind. Designed with state-of-the-art technology, the vessel is equipped to safely and efficiently transport and precisely place rock materials on the seabed to protect subsea infrastructure, including cables and foundations for offshore wind turbines.
(Photo from Great Lakes Dredge & Dock)