Ørsted and Eversource announce partnership with local fishermen

The Day; May 19, 2021

Joint-venture partners Ørsted and Eversource, the companies working with the state on a $235 million overhaul of State Pier in New London, have announced a collaboration with Waterford-based marine services provider Sea Services North America and its partner fishermen in Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York.

Ørsted says the agreement marks the first time an offshore wind developer and a commercial fishing consortium have signed a substantial commercial contract in the history of U.S. offshore wind.

The partnership, Ørsted and Eversource said in a statement, supports scouting and safety work — safe navigation in and around the companies’ planned Northeast offshore wind farms projects, including the 704-megawatt Revolution Wind project serving Rhode Island and Connecticut, the 132-megawatt South Fork Wind serving Long Island and the 924-megawatt Sunrise Wind project serving New York.

“We believe strongly that offshore wind can coexist with all ocean users, including the region’s commercial and recreational fishing fleets,” David Hardy, chief executive officer of Ørsted Offshore North America, said in a statement. “Our expanded collaboration with Sea Services will help us as we strive to achieve that coexistence, with the valuable support from fishermen who know the area’s waters best.”

Sea Services North America was co-founded by Waterford attorney Gordon Videll and Gary Yerman, the founder and owner of New London Seafood Distributors in New London.