Vessel orders decimated by Trump's bid to wipe out offshore wind sector

Shipbuilders, port operators unintended victims of U-turn on green investment plans

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US shipbuilders and port operators are getting hit in the fallout from President Donald Trump's campaign to wipe out the offshore wind industry, suffering hundreds of millions of dollars in lost government support, vanishing vessel orders and an uncertain future for the billions of dollars worth of investments.

The impact represents an unintended consequence of his policy on the offshore wind industry, which has included stop-work orders and permit reviews for massive projects that were spurred by former president Joe Biden's green investment policy.

Mr Trump calls offshore wind an unsightly and inefficient technology that harms whales and birds.

But he is also a huge supporter of US maritime industries that he views as crucial in the global competition for trade and military dominance of the high seas.

"He has a counterproductive argument," said Mr Joe Orgeron, a Republican Louisiana state representative and former offshore vessel business owner, who pointed out that the offshore wind industry was responsible for many ship orders in recent years.

"That all came to a sudden halt, unfortunately."

Reuters interviewed 13 port representatives, shipbuilders and trade groups over the knock-on impacts of Mr Trump's policy moves targeting offshore wind.

Orders for new offshore wind service vessels - designed to carry workers and huge turbines offshore or to lay undersea cables - have disappeared, according to trade group Oceantic Network. This followed a busy 2024 that saw the launch of at least 10 US vessels built to serve offshore wind.

Existing vessels are being sold off, or considered for redeployment to other global regions.