When Eneti pulled the plug on discussions for a $525m wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) at Keppel AmFELS shipyard in Texas, both companies were disappointed.

But the real significance of the breakdown may be what it portends for the fledgling US offshore wind industry and the readiness of American shipbuilding to meet demand.

It is now much less likely that the sort of US-built WTIV explored by New York-listed Eneti will be commonplace as power suppliers work to serve the emerging market, sources in the sector suggested.