Sarens drives US wind projects to the final stage
Sarens continues to play a defining role in the delivery of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project, one of the largest offshore wind farms in the world and a landmark development for the United States’ energy transition.
Following the successful start of operations in 2023 at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal (PMT), Sarens has now brought the project to its final stages, marking a series of critical milestones that underline both the scale of the undertaking and the precision required to execute it.
Awarded the full onshore marshalling and engineering scope by Virginia International Terminals, Sarens has been responsible for handling and preparing the key structural components that form the backbone of the wind farm. This included the load-in and load-out of 176 monopiles and 176 transition pieces using self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs), alongside the handling of pin piles, templates, and three offshore substations’ topsides, each weighing approximately 4.000 tonnes.
From the outset, the challenge was not only the sheer volume of components, but the need to create a system that could sustain efficiency across a long-term, high-frequency operation. A critical success factor was the development and deployment of engineered steel monopile supports. These supports met stringent ground-bearing requirements while allowing full accessibility to each monopile at any time, providing a level of operational flexibility that traditional storage methods could not achieve. This innovation proved instrumental in maintaining schedule integrity throughout the project. By the end of 2025, Sarens had successfully completed all monopile, template, pin pile, and topside operations on schedule. In total, the project has involved approximately 740 SPMT transports and 382 lifts using a CC8800 crawler crane, reflecting the intensity and consistency of execution required over the course of the works.
One of the most defining achievements of the project came in meeting the strict environmental constraints imposed on offshore operations. Due to whale migration regulations, offshore piling activities are restricted between 31 October and 1 May each year. Through close coordination between onshore and offshore teams, all monopile installations were completed one month ahead of this critical deadline, ensuring uninterrupted progress and safeguarding the overall project timeline.
As of March 2026, Sarens is approaching the final phase of its scope, with only ten transition pieces remaining before full completion of load-out activities. This marks the culmination of a complex, multi-year operation that has required continuous alignment between engineering, logistics, and execution teams.
With CVOW, Sarens has not only contributed to the successful realisation of a project of unprecedented scale in the United States, but has also reinforced its position as a key enabler of offshore wind infrastructure worldwide. The project stands as a clear demonstration that with the right engineering approach and operational discipline, even the most ambitious energy developments can be delivered safely, efficiently, and on schedule.
