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Ørsted and Crystal Steel seal fabrication center deal

By: Tom Russell 15/10/2021 Ørsted

General Windfarms

Ørsted announced an economic agreement that will establish Maryland’s first offshore wind steel fabrication center at Crystal Steel Fabricators in Federalsburg, Maryland. Ørsted’s investment in Crystal Steel is expected to facilitate nearly $70 million in supply agreements and create nearly 50 new Maryland jobs, positioning local steel workers to supply steel components that will be used to construct wind turbine foundations for Ørsted’s Mid-Atlantic projects.

Crystal Steel will begin construction activity on the new facilities this month. This investment is not conditioned on a potential future project award from the Maryland Public Service Commission. Rather, it is part of Ørsted’s plan to invest in the development of a long-term supply chain.

As a result of this partnership, Crystal Steel expects to increase its workforce by nearly a third, hiring up to 50 new local welders, fitters, CNC machine operators, painters, truck drivers, and more. The new facility will support development of at least three Ørsted projects: the Skipjack Wind program in Maryland and Ocean Wind 1 and Ocean Wind 2 in New Jersey.

Crystal Steel’s workers will pre-fabricate, or manufacture, large-scale, steel components of the turbine foundations. These components, which range in size from 9 to 16 tons each and are as tall as 45 feet, will be used in the construction of the wind turbine foundation boat landings, ladders, internal and exterior platforms, railings, grating, and other items. Final assembly of these component parts will be completed locally for each project. For the Skipjack Wind program, components fabricated at Crystal Steel will be constructed at Tradepoint Atlantic, where Ørsted has invested in Maryland’s first offshore wind staging center.

“Crystal Steel is fortunate to have developed a long-term relationship with Ørsted,” said William Lo, President of Crystal Steel Fabricators, Inc. “Both Crystal Steel and Ørsted have a shared commitment to deliver jobs and investment on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Over the last two years, Ørsted has demonstrated a vested and honest interest in supporting Crystal Steel’s efforts to contribute to the offshore wind supply chain in Maryland. We are eager and excited for the opportunity to partner with Ørsted, and to bring this to fruition for Maryland.”

“Maryland’s Eastern Shore is an outstanding location for expanding offshore wind’s domestic supply chain,” said David Hardy, CEO of Ørsted Offshore North America. “For decades, offshore wind steel fabrication jobs were located overseas, so we are particularly excited to bring these sustainable, good-paying jobs here to America as part of our buildout of a new 21st century American industry. As builder, owner, and operator of Skipjack Wind 1, we are deeply committed to investing in Maryland and the Eastern Shore for decades to come.”

The agreement marks Ørsted’s second economic commitment to Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Ørsted announced in early October it will construct Maryland’s first emissions-free offshore wind operations and maintenance facility in west Ocean City, creating 110 jobs and generating $25 million in local investment in support of the Skipjack Wind program. The facility will serve as the permanent home of wind turbine maintenance technicians, engineers, operations personnel, and other key roles.

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Ørsted and Crystal Steel seal fabrication center deal

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