The 2024 New Bedford Offshore Wind Conference agenda will continue to be updated as the conference draws closer. This year’s agenda includes tours and program sessions that cover important industry topics across four tracks: Supply Chain Development & Integration, Workforce Development & Training, Research, Innovation & Technology, and Ports & Vessels.

Registration Open at New Bedford Whaling Museum

Self-Guided Tour of Museum

Take a complimentary self-guided tour of the internationally renowned New Bedford Whaling Museum. Download the free Bloomberg Connects app to explore expert-curated content and museum guide.

Offshore Wind Cables Pre-Conference Event in Partnership with Global Underwater Hub at New Bedford Whaling Museum

Networking Breakfast & Opening Remarks by Andy Williamson, Business Development Director at Global Underwater Hub

Session I
Port Infrastructure, Logistics, Storage and Mobs/Demobs

Cable Logistics and Storage: Hamish Adamson, Managing Director at Harlyn

Port Infrastructure, Storage, and Spooling: Andrew Saunders, President at Foss Marine Terminal

Cable Design and Manufacturing: Adam Barnes, Service Manager Renewables, JDR

Session II
Preparation: Engineering, Survey, Cable Design, and Seabed Preparation

3D Geospatial Approach to Cable Burial Risk Assessments: Kieran Hill, Senior Subsea Cable Engineer at Global Maritime

UXO/Mec ID Remediation: Andrew Elvin, Senior EOD Specialist, Helix

Seabed Reparation: Ross Johnston, Business Development Manager at Rotech

Networking Coffee Break

Session III
Subsea Works: Seabed Preparation, and Cable Lay (Burial and CPS)

Cable Lay, Vessels, and Logistics: Philip Hamels, Business Development Manager at Jan de Nul

Accurate Ground Condition Data Matters: Right Tooling Selection, General Operational Experiences: Nick Townley, Business Development Manager at Helix

Cable Lay Guidance for Renewables: Rhys Jones, Marine and Renewable Energy Technical Advisor at IMCA

Networking Lunch and Trenching Presentation by Chris Thayer, Business Development Manager at Royal IHC

Session IV
O&M: Health Monitoring, Survey, and Repair

Smarter Strategies for Offshore Wind Cable Integrity Monitoring: Jeff Williamson, Business Development Manager at Proserve

Cable Integrity and Health Monitoring: Neil Douglas, Non-Executive Director at Viper

What Lies Beneath: Survey for Offshore Wind: Matt Cadwallader, Business Development Manager at ACTEON/UTEC

Closing Remarks

Kick-Off Reception & Facility Tour at Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Speakers: Jennifer Downing, New Bedford Ocean Cluster; Klaus Møeller, Vineyard Wind

Registration required. Attendees will board buses at the entrance of the Whaling Museum. Buses will begin boarding at 3:45 pm to depart for Massachusetts Maritime Academy at 4:00 pm sharp. Buses will begin boarding to return to the Whaling Museum in New Bedford at 7:15 p.m.

Networking Breakfast

Harbor View Gallery

Welcome Remarks & Keynotes

Cook Memorial Theater

Speakers: Jennifer Downing, New Bedford Ocean Cluster; Jon Mitchell, Mayor of New Bedford; Emily Reichert, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center; Ken Kimmell, Avangrid Renewables

Plenary Session: The Feeder Barge System, Optimizing Port Infrastructure to Meet U.S. Offshore Wind Demand

Cook Memorial Theater

Speakers: Gordon Carr, New Bedford Port Authority; Joel Whitman, Foss Offshore Wind; Bill White, DEME; Danny Markus, Barge Master; Brian Lefebvre, Attentive Energy

Ecosystem Tour (Multiple Facilities)

Attendees will board buses at the entrance of the Whaling Museum. 

Lunch Plenary Session: Vineyard Wind 1 Workforce Outcomes, Challenges, and Strategies for Future Impact

Harbor View Gallery

Lunch Sponsored by Semco Maritime

Speakers: Dustin Varnell, Spirit Advisory; Jennifer Cullen, Vineyard Offshore

Round Table Discussion: Joint Dutch/U.S. Research & Development Opportunities for Offshore Wind

Harbor View Gallery

Speakers: Bob Meijer, TKI Offshore Energy; Arjan Voogt, MARIN; Olivia Burke, The Carbon Trust

Panel Discussion: The Operations & Maintenance Supply Chain, Opportunities for Local Business Engagement

Cook Memorial Theater

Speakers: Carlos Avila, New Bedford Ocean Cluster; Anthony Janeczek, Semco Maritime; Michael Quinn, Shoreline Offshore; Matt Cadwallader, Acteon/UTEC

Flash Sessions:

Cook Memorial Theater

1. Floating Offshore Wind: Update on the Gulf of Maine

Speaker: Lisa Engler, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

2. State of Manufacturing: Examining Key Trends, Industry Challenges, and Opportunities in the Offshore Wind Supply Chain

Speakers: Kathie Mahoney & Olivia Antonelli, MassMEP

Panel Discussion: Understanding Project Labor Agreements

Harbor View Gallery

Speakers: Laura Hastings, U.S. Department of Energy; Dan Kent, Vineyard Wind; Tamika Jacques, Avangrid; James Pimental, Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen Local 3 MA/ME/NH/RI and SE Mass Building Trades Council

Flash Talks with NBOC Members & Community Resource Partners

Cook Memorial Theater

Speakers: Carlos Avila, New Bedford Ocean Cluster; Pam Kuechler, PACE; Maggie Merrill, UMASS Dartmouth; Eric Hryniewicz, Ithaca Clean Energy; Steven Johnston, OpenCape; Peter Lonelle Walker, WindWorks 

Sunset Cruise of the Port of New Bedford

Tour Guides: Gordon Carr, New Bedford Port & Jeannie Houde, MassCEC

66 State Pier, Cuttyhunk Ferry Co.

Sponsored by Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
Capacity is limited. Attendees should make their way down to the dock at 4:30 pm for a 5:00 pm launch.

Networking Reception

Bourne Building, Home of the Lagoda

Sponsored by Avangrid
Join us for drinks and hors d’oeuvres while exploring the gallery to learn about the business of whaling, crew, and life on shipboard. Don’t miss the opportunity to step aboard the spectacular Lagoda, a half-scale model of the whaling bark and the largest ship model in existence.

Networking Breakfast

Harbor View Gallery

Welcome Remarks & Special Recognition of Prof. James Manwell, Author and Founding Director of UMass Amherst Wind Energy Center

Harbor View Gallery

Speakers: John Bullard, New Bedford Ocean Cluster; James Manwell University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Keynote

Harbor View Gallery

Speaker: Enrique Alvarez Cordobes, SouthCoast Wind

Plenary Session: Successes, Lessons Learned, and Opportunities Ahead for Developing the Offshore Wind Supply Chain

Harbor View Gallery

Speakers: Carol Oldham, Foss Offshore Wind; Jay Borkland, Avangrid;
Jonathan Salzman, SouthCoast Wind & Ocean Winds; Jennifer Downing, New Bedford Ocean Cluster

Panel Discussion: Best Practices for Engaging the Next Generation Workforce in Offshore Wind

Harbor View Gallery

Speakers: Lauren Farnsworth, MassCEC; Sanjay Arwade, UMass Amherst ARROW Program; Yvonne Tobey, Building Pathways South;
Megan Amsler, KidWind Summer Academy; Jeannine Louro, Vineyard Wind

Panel Discussion: Emerging Technologies for Offshore Wind

Cook Memorial Theater

Speakers: Toby Stapleton, Blue Venture Forum; Andy Williamson, Global Underwater Hub; Dan Kuchma, Tufts University; Ian Estaphan Owen, Jaia Robotics

Panel Discussion: Vessel Mobilization for O&M and Construction

Harbor View Gallery

Speakers: Jennifer Downing, New Bedford Ocean Cluster; Ed Washburn, Coast Line Transfers; Jessica Digiulio, Moran Shipping; Graham Tyson, Crowley; Jon Wood, Foss Maritime

Presentation and Discussion: Collaborative Science, Offshore Wind, and the Future of Fisheries

Cook Memorial Theater

Speakers: Steven Lohrenz, UMass Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST); Alison Frey, PhD student; Andie Painten, MS student; Sierra Wachala, PhD student

Lunch Plenary Session: Obstacles and Opportunities to Ensure a Competent and Willing Workforce

Harbor View Gallery

Speakers: Laura Smith, Atlas Professionals; Ziven Drake, North Atlantic Carpenter Training Fund; Allyn Scotland, Altura; Michael Landry, Patriot Offshore

Flash Sessions: New Initiatives to Advance Ocean Innovation & Technology

Cook Memorial Theater

1. Southeastern New England Ocean Tech Hub

Speaker: Lisa Carnevale, Rhode Island Commerce

2. Ocean Renewable Energy Innovation Center

Speaker: Sam Waters, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

Panel Discussion: Health, Safety, Environment, Quality Standards, What Companies Need to Know to Work in Wind

Harbor View Gallery

Speaker: Dan Kent, Vineyard Wind; Jay Sousa, Avangrid; Will Kenyon, Orsted; Geoff Neild, Vineyard Wind

Closing Remarks

Cook Memorial Theater

Self-Guided Tour of Museum

Take a complimentary self-guided tour of the internationally renowned New Bedford Whaling Museum. Download the free Bloomberg Connects app to explore expert-curated content and museum guide.