Offshore wind thrives in Rhode Island.
Home to the nation’s first pilot offshore wind farm, it’s one of two states that will benefit from the under-construction 704 MW Revolution Wind project (with plans for more projects in the future) and boasts top-notch ports and facilities.
The Port of Davisville (PoD), operated by the Quonset Development Corp. (QDC), is the only public port in the state and plays a critical role in supporting industry operations in the state. The port is transformative for Rhode Island and the nation and the port’s prime location at the mouth of Narragansett Bay makes it ideal for importing and exporting, causing all vessel traffic to spike 47% between 2023 and 2024, with a 107% spike in offshore wind service vessel traffic alone.
Location is not the only aspect of the port that makes it unique. Davisville has shown its ability to adapt to change, constructing Blue Economy Support Docks which will service smaller vessels dedicated to the offshore wind industry and allow for more handling of heavy offshore wind-related cargo.
Currently, the PoD is completing an extensive renovation across all of the port’s infrastructure, modernizing and expanding each pier. So far, $152.7 million has been spent, accumulated partially from a grant from the Port Infrastructure Development Program within the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD). This will allow the port to receive more vessels and service the industry more effectively.
The PoD works closely with partners within the public and private sector to emphasize the importance of the port and how it can directly help Rhode Island reach its 1.6 GW by 2030 offshore wind goal.
Credit: Port of Davisville
Credit: Port of Davisville
Oceantic Network recently met with Port of Davisville Director Joe Riccio to discuss the recent growth of the port and how it has and will influence the industry. Read more below.
Oceantic: What future offshore wind-related improvements or projects are planned for the port?
Joe: We are constructing the brand-new Terminal 5 Pier –the first new pier built at Quonset in over 70 years– and the reconfiguration of our roadways to create easier access to the Port.
Additionally, QDC has developed plans and is working to secure funding for the Quonset Multi-Modal Offshore Wind Technology Campus (QMTC). The QMTC will be a marine and aviation transportation hub used by the offshore wind industry for the development, operation, and maintenance of the offshore wind farms planned for the waters. The campus would include a designated space for four helicopter hangars and high-bay units that can be fit-out by users to meet their individual needs.
Oceantic: The Port of Davisville is in the midst of a $234.5 million plan to modernize into a hub for offshore wind. What improvements have been made thus far?
Joe: The Port of Davisville Master Plan is providing a new 50-year service life to the Port’s infrastructure, and the upgrades are well underway.
At Pier 2, we’ve completed a full expansion and modernization. The upgrades feature an extension of the East face, adding 900 feet with two heavy lift pads (2,000 PSF).
Pier 1 is being refurbished in phases. Along the perimeter of the pier, we’re replacing the timber pile foundation and concrete deck and installing a new steel-pile supported concrete deck in its place. The North and South Faces of the pier are now open while construction has begun on the East Face. We project that this portion of the project will be completed later this year.
The new Terminal 5 Pier will accommodate continued vehicle imports and service a variety of offshore wind vessels, freeing up berthing space that will allow Pier 2 to receive heavy cargo related to offshore wind projects. The Terminal 5 project also includes access and laydown improvements and roadway relocation. We expect the project to be completed later this year.
Oceantic: When QDC began planning for these improvements, how did you determine which renovations were needed and where to start? When did those efforts begin?
Joe: The efforts began more than 10 years ago with the development of the Block Island Wind Farm, the nation’s first offshore wind project. As the closest port to the offshore wind site, Davisville was in a unique position to lead. We had the infrastructure to handle much of the marshalling needs.
As the offshore wind industry grew, we knew we needed to upgrade the Port’s World War II-era infrastructure to play our role. Today, Quonset is leading the way, with 116 offshore wind vessels having called on Davisville in 2024.
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All photos provided courtesy of the Port of Davisville
