Coastal Virginia Offshore Winds

Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association CVOW

Coastal Virginia Offshore Winds

The VSSA is actively involved in communication with the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance and Dominion Energy to make sure the Recreational Fishing communities concerns are heard with the ongoing development of Offshore Wind off the coast of Virginia.

 

We have representation on the Advisory Council for ROSA and will periodically share information when it comes available to help inform the public and our members.

The biggest concern heard for the recreational community is access to the structures. Except for during construction, access to the public will be allowed. Of course, tying off to the structure will be forbidden.

Here are some key links to access information and learn more about the project.

 

Interesting supporting partners links:

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council — Northeast Offshore Wind (mafmc.org)

Renewable Energy | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (boem.gov)

Socioeconomic Impacts of Atlantic Offshore Wind Development | NOAA Fisheries

Tethys | Environmental Effects of Wind and Marine Renewable Energy (pnnl.gov)

 

Similar Buoy information from another Offshore Wind site in the Northeast that may become available to the public.

 

 

 

 

 

Good day Friend,

As our offshore survey work on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project continues through the winter of 2021, we remain committed to maintaining communications with the fishing community and other mariners in the area via these periodic updates. All mariners are encouraged to contact Dominion Energy’s Fisheries Liaisons with any specific questions about the status of the projects in relation to fisheries.

Recent announcements include:

  • On 16-DEC-2020 Dominion Energy announced that the keel was laid for the first Jones Act compliant offshore wind turbine installation vessel being constructed by a consortium of respected industry participants that Dominion Energy is leading.
  • On 17-DEC-2020 the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) was filed with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for the CVOW Commercial Project (CVOW-C).

The CVOW Pilot Project (CVOW-P) is now complete! Two wind turbines located in federal waters are providing enough clean, renewable energy to power up to 3,000 Virginia homes and avoid up to 25,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The CVOW-P turbines, the export cable route and the MET Ocean Buoy are now displayed on the updated NOAA Nautical Charts (Chart #s 12200 and 12221). The CVOW-P turbines continue to provide a platform for Realtime Opportunity for Development Environmental Observations (RODEO) projects as well as US Coast Guard training activities.

Offshore survey activities for the Commercial Project (CVOW-C) are expected to continue through the March 2021 timeframe. The survey vessel(s) Dina Polaris and Geoquip Speer will continue with their seabed sampling at fixed positions within the lease area and along the planned export cable route towards the shore. The survey vessel(s) Minerva Uno, Kommandor Stuart and Go Discovery will be conducting geophysical survey operations using towed equipment to map the seafloor within the lease area and around its perimeter.

Activities will be conducted 24/7; please consult the Fifth Coast Guard District Local Notice to Mariners for additional information on vessel activity.

Vessel details are as follows:

Geoquip Speer

  • Call Sign: V7VK4
  • Flag: Marshall Islands
  • MMSI: 538004141
  • LOA: 275 ft (84 m)
  • IMO: 9546021
  • Beam: 59 ft (18 m)

Dina Polaris

  • Call Sign: LAXB7
  • Flag: Norway
  • MMSI: 257006530
  • LOA: 321 ft (99 m)
  • IMO: 9765031
  • Beam: 68 ft (21 m)

Minerva Uno

  • Call Sign: IZVM
  • Flag: Marshall Islands
  • MMSI: 247080700
  • LOA: 155 ft (48 m)
  • IMO: 9262077
  • Beam: 30 ft (9 m)

Kommandor Stuart

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Call Sign: MPQH3
  • Flag: United Kingdom
  • MMSI: 235011900
  • LOA: 197 ft (60.3 m)
  • IMO: 7514397
  • Beam: 39 ft (12 m)

Go Discovery

 

 

 

 

 

  • Call Sign: WDK4727
  • Flag: USA
  • MMSI: 368058130
  • LOA: 176 ft (53.7 m)
  • IMO: 9735696
  • Beam: 45 ft (14 m)

For more information on Dominion Energy’s CVOW activities, click here.

Survey vessels will monitor VHF Channels 16 & 13 if direct bridge-to-bridge communications are required.

Approximate Lease Area Coordinates
 

WP

 Latitude

(Deg MM.mm)

 Longitude

(Deg MM.mm)

 Approx. Depth (ft)
1  36° 58.39’N  75° 29.12’W 72
2  36° 59.69’N 75° 27.51’W 60
3  36° 59.73’N  75° 12.94’W 110
4  36° 49.35’N  75° 12.92’W 84
5  36° 49.30’N  75° 29.06’W 78
Approximate Export Cable Corridor Coordinates
 

WP

 Latitude

(Deg MM.mm)

 Longitude

(Deg MM.mm)

 Approx. Depth (ft)
LP  36° 48.57’N  75° 57.88’W 0
A  36° 48.91’N  75° 53.61’W 36
B  36° 48.08’N  75° 48.52’W 57
C  36° 47.84’N  75° 43.46’W 67
D  36° 48.41’N 75° 36.87’W 59
E  36° 49.73’N  75° 35.07’W 56
F  36° 51.29’N  75° 27.77’W 85

Mariners transiting or fishing in the survey area are requested to give a wide berth to survey vessels which may be limited in their ability to maneuver and towing gear up to 1,000’ behind the vessel. Mariners should operate in a manner that will not endanger the vessel or its equipment, a 0.5 NM clearance is requested.

Contact Us

Fishermen planning to deploy fixed gear or work mobile gear in the vicinity of the operations described should contact the Fisheries Liaisons prior to deploying to coordinate activities. Local fishing vessels will be used as Scout Boats to help avoid any fishing gear conflicts. If you suspect your gear has been damaged by survey activity, please contact us.

Sea Risk Solutions, LLC

Ron Larsen (Fisheries Liaison Officer)
(570) 242-5023, [email protected]

Wolfgang Rain (Fisheries Liaison Officer)
(206) 427-6553, [email protected]

Dominion Energy

Kevin Carroll (Project Management)
[email protected]

Scott Lawton (Environmental)
[email protected]

Additional project information is available on our web page dedicated to the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project.

Learn More