What’s up with the Eiffel Tower-looking structure in Norfolk? [Video]

NORFOLK, Va. — If you’ve been in Norfolk’s West Ghent and Lambert’s Point neighborhoods recently, especially at night, you may have noticed something that resembles the Eiffel Tower in the skyline.

Or at least that’s what some 13News Now viewers told us.

But no, the world-famous tower wasn’t magically transported from Paris to Hampton Roads. What you’re seeing is the Orion, a heavy-lift vessel being used in Dominion Energy’s offshore wind project.

Dominion Energy spokesperson Jeremy Slayton confirmed that the vessel is parked at the Port of Virginia, which has several terminals in Norfolk and Portsmouth. It arrived in port last weekend.

The company is using the vessel to install the monopile foundations for windmills being built nearly 30 miles off Virginia Beach’s coast. By the time the project is complete, there will be 176 wind turbines.

According to Ship Technology, the Orion has a …