Watco, Crowley partner to serve offshore wind-energy industry

Watco Cos. LLC and Crowley Holdings Inc. announced yesterday they're partnering to create a single-source terminal and supply-chain management solution to support the emerging offshore wind industry.

With the growing number of wind projects planned for U.S. waters, the partnership brings together project- management and logistics experts who can provide a "one-stop shop" for owners, operators and local port authorities in support of the offshore wind industry, Watco and Crowley officials said in a press release.

"This partnership will provide turnkey services for the offshore wind industry in the area of terminal management," said Lynda Patterson, Watco's senior vice president of logistics. "Crowley and Watco will work together to leverage our respective expertise in logistics, project management and energy support to create innovative solutions to meet full lifecycle project needs."

Watco will use its onshore wind-terminal management skills and ongoing relationships with original-equipment manufacturers to develop state-of-the-art terminal management services for the offshore-wind industry. Watco and Crowley will collaborate to provide custom terminal design, project management, warehousing, logistics, supply-chain management and equipment maintenance through their commercial expertise and curated supply- chain networks, officials from both companies said.

Crowley will provide offshore logistics offerings through its vessel fleet, engineering services and crossover expertise in oil and gas. Services will include the design and operation of service-operation vessels, crew-transfer vessels, turbine maintenance, offshore-substation repair and maintenance and additional services necessary to sustain offshore wind-energy operations.