Offshore Wind is a growing industry

Offshore Wind is a growing industry along the eastern seaboard, and particularly in the Mid-Atlantic. Several offshore wind projects are planned for leases off the New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland coastlines; consisting of hundreds of wind turbines and offshore substations. While the obvious benefits of this development are to power thousands of homes and businesses, it comes with the risk of an offshore oil spill. The DBRC is uniquely positioned to provide this coverage with its Oil Spill Response Vessel (OSRV), moored at the University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment in Lewes, DE. Our capable vessel is able to respond to the Offshore Wind Projects during both construction and operational phases in 4 hours or less, with onboard containment boom and oil removal skimmers, and crew of highly trained and experienced personnel. We will be working closely with US Coast Guard, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) to help formulate a cohesive response to potential incidents in both construction and operational phases of the wind farms. Offshore Wind development is included in DBRC’s Environmental Protection Program overall, and particular in the education component. Through our involvement with the evolution of offshore wind, we can help educate others, both public and private, in the best ways to protect our areas natural resources.