Chouest, Equinor Christen The ECO Liberty
Equinor, the developer of Empire Wind, a wind energy array under development just south of Long Island, N.Y., officially launched its Louisiana-built service operations vessel ECO Liberty on June 28. The christening, held along the Mississippi River in New Orleans, featured leadership from both Equinor and Edison Chouest Offshore, the Galliano, La.-based shipyard that built the ECO Liberty, and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry.
Louisiana First Lady Sharon Landry served as the vessel’s “godmother” and also officially christened the vessel alongside her husband, the governor. A proclamation signed by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell declaring June 28 as ECO Liberty Day was presented during the ceremony.
“The ECO Liberty showcases the positive impact Empire Wind is having on the American economy,” said Molly Morris, president of Equinor Renewables Americas. “Equinor is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Louisiana’s world-class shipbuilding industry as we support the Trump administration’s efforts to expand U.S. vessel manufacturing. This vessel reflects how offshore wind can create durable, high-quality jobs while building out a homegrown energy supply chain.”
The 262-foot, hybrid-powered ECO Liberty will operate in the waters off New York, where it will homeport at New York’s South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, the site of a forthcoming staging facility, operations and maintenance base and control center for Empire Wind. The ECO Liberty will be deployed to support ongoing marine construction in the lease area of the Empire Wind project and eventually serve as the floating home for Empire Wind’s skilled workers when stationed offshore. To support the Empire Wind project, seven new U.S.-flagged vessels, including the ECO Liberty, eventually will be added to the nation’s Jones Act compliant fleet.
Edison Chouest Offshore built the ECO Liberty using a workforce of more than 500 shipbuilders and with American-made steel and components from companies in several Gulf Coast states.
“Today, Sharon and I had the honor of attending the christening for Edison Chouest’s ECO vessel,” Landry said following the christening. “This ship is an example of Louisiana’s greatness.
“The maritime industry began the economy of Louisiana,” Landry added, “and today is symbolic of the Trump administration’s quest of ensuring that domestic energy, domestic ship-building and domestic work returns to the United States.”
