05/12/2026
A wind-turbine installation vessel is on its way from Singapore to the waters off Long Island as Empire Wind developer Equinor moves ahead with construction for a contested project that is already two-thirds complete.
The Maersk-owned vessel Viridis left port in Singapore in March and is expected to arrive in waters off Long Island for sea trials later this year, according to Equinor responses to Newsday questions. It will be aided by tugboats and barges that are under construction in Louisiana and Mississippi, Equinor said.
Foundations and monopiles have already been installed, Equinor said, and are ready to accommodate the 54 turbines, ready to accommodate the 54 turbines, towers and more than 150 blades to be set in place in the waters 14 miles off Jones Beach. The equipment will arrive at South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, the staging grounds for the project, in coming weeks and months. Turbines, Equinor said, "will be subject to tariffs in effect at the time of import," a figure unavailable this week.
Asked if Equinor had been approached by the Trump administration to accept a payment in exchange for suspending its project, as have two other offshore leaseholders, Equinor spokesman David Schoetz would only say, "Our focus is on delivering Empire Wind to help meet New York’s power demand."
A wind-turbine vessel from Singapore is en route to Long Island as Equinor advances the Empire Wind project, now more than 65% complete.
