Dominion Energy confirmed additional commissioning delays for its wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) Charybdis but emphasized that construction of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project remains on schedule.
Speaking during an investor earnings call on Friday, Dominion’s Chair, President and CEO Robert Blue described the challenges with Charybdis as “extremely disappointing,” acknowledging that the vessel “has again not met expectations.”
Despite the setback, Blue told investors that Dominion expects commissioning work to conclude soon, allowing first turbine installations to begin in November. The company continues to target first power delivery in late Q1 2026, with project completion by the end of 2026.
Built at Seatrium AmFELS shipyard in Brownsville, Texas, Charybdis is the first U.S.-built Jones Act-compliant WTIV, measuring 472 feet (144 m) in length and weighing 27,000 gross tons. The vessel’s crane has a 2,200-ton lifting capacity, and it features a 40-meter (131-foot) air gap when in jack-up position. Construction took nearly five years, and the vessel cost approximately $715 million.
After completing sea trials and regulatory sign-offs, the vessel arrived at the Portsmouth Marine Terminal in mid-September. Since its arrival, Siemens Gamesa has completed adjustments for turbine handling and installation, followed by additional inspections.
According to Blue, inspections identified two key issues: the material condition of several electrical system components and the documentation verifying compliance with U.S. codes and standards. Dominion reported around 200 punch-list items, with roughly 120 already resolved. The company has about 200 crewmembers and marine electricians onboard conducting final checks, totaling over 4,000 inspections across 69 electrical systems, including 1,400 cable tests.
Dominion said it chose to build Charybdis internally to strengthen project schedule control and cost predictability. Blue reiterated that the company continues to see strategic value in owning the vessel despite the commissioning hurdles.
As of September 2025, Dominion reported a cumulative investment of $8.2 billion in the CVOW project, with remaining capital expenditures of about $1.5 billion. The total project cost has now reached $11.2 billion, up from $9.8 billion, due to tariffs, onshore grid upgrades, and interconnection costs.
Offshore construction is advancing steadily: all monopiles (100%) have been installed, 63 transition pieces are in place, and fabrication of all 176 is complete. The second substation jacket has been installed, while the topside will follow shortly. A third offshore substation is scheduled for installation in Q1 2026.
Blue noted that while the Charybdis delays have reduced available time for weather and maintenance contingencies, overall project milestones remain within the existing timeline. The 176-turbine wind farm, located 27 miles off Virginia Beach, will supply power to about 660,000 homes when completed.
