Royal IHC and Kalypso Offshore Energy sign LOI for a Cable Lay Vessel

Royal IHC and Kalypso Offshore Energy, LLC (Kalypso), an emerging contractor for the offshore wind industry in the U.S., have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to build America’s first innovative Jones Act compliant Cable Lay Vessel (CLV) for the offshore wind market.

Kalypso brings robust experience in offshore wind management as well as US marine operations. Kalypso is committed to providing safe, reliable, and efficient cable installation solutions to bolster the U.S. offshore wind industry.

The collaboration between Kalypso and Royal IHC marks a significant advancement in the US wind supply chain by filling a key gap in the nation’s vessel capabilities. Leveraging Royal IHC’s extensive engineering prowess and Kalypso’s industry insight, this partnership aims to domestically produce a state-of-the-art 5,000-ton CLV.

Kalypso’s CLV has been designed and constructed to meet Jones Act compliance standards, ensuring adherence to U.S. legislation for domestic maritime trade. This new cutting-edge vessel will offer safe, versatile, and efficient cable lay services including installation, repair, and maintenance capabilities. 

“Kalypso is thrilled to partner with Royal IHC to design and deliver America’s first Cable Lay Vessel built on U.S. soil dedicated to offshore wind,” said Colin Smith, Managing Director of Kalypso, “Kalypso’s CLV will enhance the nation's offshore energy prospects and foster local economic growth.” 

Commenting on the partnership, Derk te Bokkel, CEO of Royal IHC, added: "I take pride in leading a company capable of delivering this key contribution to the energy transition and energy security in America’s home market. The development of this CLV is a significant milestone for Royal IHC and the offshore wind sector in the US. We feel privileged to provide our added value to a knowledgeable pioneer such as Kalypso.”

“Cable installation and repair are critical, but often overlooked, functions to the offshore wind industry and the US must upgrade our capabilities for state and federal deployment targets to be met,” said John Begala, Vice President of State and Federal Policy at the Oceantic Network, the leading US non-profit working to advance offshore wind and other ocean renewable industries. “This investment and partnership demonstrate the attractiveness of the U.S. market and represent a significant maturation of our domestic supply chain.”

Kalypso and Royal IHC will continue collaborating closely to finalize contract, engineering, and construction details. This collaboration marks a significant step in achieving Kalypso’s mission to offer a local, experienced solution for the cable lay sector of the U.S. offshore wind industry.