Riggs Distler Awarded Contract for Ørsted’s Ocean Wind 1

On Sep 15, 2023

Ørsted, a global leader in offshore and land-based wind farms, has awarded Riggs Distler the contract for the secondary steel components for its Ocean Wind 1 Project 15 miles off the coast of southern New Jersey. The project will begin delivering 1,100 MW of clean, renewable energy in 2025, enough to power 500,000 homes and businesses.

Riggs Distler, a union utility infrastructure services company, will provide onshore heavy civil, mechanical, and electrical services focused on the construction, assembly, inspection, and onshore installation of advanced foundation components. Work includes the construction of large, specialized pieces that are critical elements of wind turbine foundations, including boat landings and ladders, external concrete platforms, supported internal platforms, monopile doors, and anode cages. When complete, the components will be shipped to the Ocean Wind 1 project site. Offshore construction for the project is anticipated to begin in 2024.

Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Cherry Hill, Riggs Distler, a Centuri Company, has a growing portfolio of work in emerging clean energy technologies throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions. Riggs Distler will employ more than 145 personnel including over 125 skilled tradesmen and women from local labor unions to build the offshore wind foundation components.

“We are pleased to pen a second East Coast contract with Riggs Distler,” said Hina Kazmi, Ocean Wind 1 program director for Ørsted. “Given their experience successfully delivering advanced foundation components for two of our Northeast projects – South Fork Wind and Revolution Wind – Riggs Distler will play an integral role in advancing our Ocean Wind 1 project. We take pride in awarding the secondary steel scope for New Jersey’s first offshore wind farm to an established firm with New Jersey roots employing union labor.“

“From onshore substation, duct bank, and utility interconnection construction, to fabricating, constructing, assembling, inspecting, and providing onshore installation of advanced foundation components for offshore wind farms, we are enabling hundreds of thousands of American homes to be powered by clean energy while building the local supply base to support this exciting renewable industry. We are proud that our work is creating economic growth and job opportunities right here in our own backyard as we work to build a cleaner energy future,” said Steve Zemaitatis, Riggs Distler President & CEO.

The scope of work, totaling more than 400,000 person-hours, demonstrates the growing U.S. supply chain and significant job opportunities brought by offshore wind:

• Riggs Distler will spend an anticipated 300,000 plus person-hours on the project.
• Minority-owned, Maryland-based Crystal Steel Fabricators will be providing 115,000 person-hours to fabricate and deliver the boat landings and ladders for the wind turbine foundations.
• New York-based technology manufacturer, LJUNGSTRÖM, will contribute 60,000 person-hours on the pre-fabrication and delivery of steel components for the turbines.

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