Empire Wind NETP — your Long Island approved vendor.
Long Island Marine Electronics is an approved navigation equipment vendor under the Empire Wind Navigation Enhancement and Training Program. If you fish or transit near the Empire Wind area, you may qualify for a voucher — and we're the local shop approved to fill it.
Empire Wind (Equinor) is building one of the largest offshore wind farms off Long Island. The NETP was created to help commercial fishermen, charter captains, and vessel operators upgrade their navigation equipment for safer operation near the turbines. Bring your voucher to LIME — we handle the equipment, the installation, and the invoice to Empire Wind directly.
What is the Empire Wind Navigation Enhancement and Training Program?
The Empire Wind offshore wind project — developed by Equinor — is located approximately 14–20 miles off the coast of Long Island. As the project places turbines in waters historically used by Long Island's commercial and charter fishing fleet, Empire Wind created the Navigation Enhancement and Training Program (NETP) to help those vessel operators navigate safely near the wind farm.
The NETP provides eligible vessel operators with vouchers to upgrade their navigation equipment — solid-state radar, AIS transceivers, and satellite internet — from an approved vendor. Long Island Marine Electronics is an approved vendor for the Empire Wind NETP program.
The program is administered by The Paratus Group on behalf of Empire Wind. Once equipment is installed and verified, LIME invoices Empire Offshore Wind LLC directly. Invoices are paid within 30 days by bank check.
Do you qualify for an Empire Wind equipment voucher?
Commercial fishermen, charter vessels, and Coast Guard inspected passenger vessels that can demonstrate a history of fishing or transiting within 0.5 nautical miles of Empire Wind's current or planned turbine and substation locations are eligible.
Eligible vessel types
- Commercial fishing vessels
- Charter boats and for-hire fishing vessels
- Coast Guard inspected passenger vessels
- Uninspected passenger vessels (six-pack charters)
Eligibility is determined by the program manager. Contact The Paratus Group to start the process: paul.r.lattanzi@paratusgroup.org
Documentation you may need
To affirm your eligibility, be prepared to submit proof of your vessel's historic fishing or transit activity near the Empire Wind area. Accepted documentation includes:
- AIS track lines showing your vessel's positions
- Vessel Trip Reports (VTR)
- Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) data
- State catch and effort logbook data
- Chart plotter track data
- eTRIPS data
Once your eligibility is confirmed, the program manager issues your voucher with a unique number and expiration date. Bring that to LIME.
What the NETP voucher covers.
The NETP provides two types of vouchers. Voucher recipients are responsible for any costs that exceed the voucher value.
Equipment — up to $10,000
Commercial fishing vessels and Coast Guard inspected passenger vessels receive a voucher of up to $10,000 toward purchase and installation of pre-approved navigation equipment from an approved vendor like LIME.
Equipment — up to $5,000
Uninspected passenger vessels — six-pack charter boats — receive a voucher of up to $5,000 toward approved navigation equipment. Equipment must be from the pre-approved list and installed by an approved vendor.
Training — up to $1,000 per crew
Owners of eligible vessels may nominate two crew members for professional mariner training. Each receives up to $1,000 toward an approved course: Coast Guard-approved Captain's license, radar observer certification, rules of the road, or safe navigation within wind farms.
What equipment does the voucher cover?
Vouchers cover pre-approved navigation equipment only. All must be from the approved list — if you want a specific model not on the list, LIME contacts the program manager for approval before any purchase. Equipment must be solid-state where applicable.
Solid-state radar
The program requires solid-state (pulse compression) radar — older magnetron radars do not qualify. Per a 2022 National Academies study, solid-state radars perform better near wind turbines: faster response times, Doppler processing, and greater frequency stability.
Approved brands: Garmin GMR Fantom series · Furuno DRS NXT series · Raymarine Quantum and Cyclone series · Simrad HALO series.
AIS transceivers
AIS lets your vessel broadcast and receive position, speed, and heading — including from wind turbine structures equipped with AIS. Both Class A and Class B transceivers are covered.
Approved models include: Garmin AIS 800 · Raymarine AIS 650 and 700 · Vesper Cortex M1 · Em-Trak B951 · Furuno FA-170 · SIMRAD NAIS-500 · and others on the approved list.
Satellite internet
Satellite internet keeps vessel operators connected offshore — improving situational awareness, weather monitoring, and emergency communication near the wind farm.
Approved systems: Starlink Performance Kit · Starlink Standard Kit (with mounts, router, and cables) · Intellian OW10HM compact maritime flat panel.
How the NETP voucher process works at LIME.
Apply to the program
Contact The Paratus Group to verify your eligibility and receive a voucher. You'll need documentation of your vessel's history fishing or transiting near the Empire Wind area. Your voucher will have a unique number and an expiration date.
Program manager: Paul R. Lattanzi — paul.r.lattanzi@paratusgroup.org
Come to LIME
Call us at 516-448-6221 with your voucher number. We verify it with the program manager, walk you through the pre-approved equipment list, and help you choose the right radar, AIS, or Starlink setup for your specific vessel.
Contact us early — vouchers have expiration dates and equipment needs lead time.
We install and invoice
We order the equipment, come to your boat at your marina, and install everything to ABYC marine electrical standards. Once the equipment is verified working, LIME invoices Empire Offshore Wind LLC directly. Invoices are paid within 30 days.
Vendor letter and program brochure.
LIME's approval as an Empire Wind NETP vendor is documented in a formal letter from The Paratus Group, dated March 31, 2026. The NETP Information brochure provides full program details including eligibility requirements and approved equipment categories.
NETP Vendor Approval Letter
Formal approval from The Paratus Group (Equinor / Empire Offshore Wind LLC), March 31, 2026. Confirms LIME as an approved navigation equipment vendor under the Empire Wind NETP.
NMEA Certified MEI
National Marine Electronics Association — Certified Marine Electronics Installer. The primary professional credential in marine electronics.
ABYC Electrical Standards
American Boat and Yacht Council E-11 electrical certification. Every installation meets ABYC marine wiring standards — tinned wire, rated fuses, waterproof connectors.
Empire Wind NETP Approved
Formally approved by Equinor and The Paratus Group as a Navigation Enhancement and Training Program equipment vendor for the Empire Wind offshore wind project.
Frequently asked questions.
How do I know if I qualify?
If you're a commercial fisherman, charter captain, or vessel operator who has fished or transited within 0.5 nautical miles of the Empire Wind area, you may be eligible. The program manager at The Paratus Group makes final determinations. Contact us — we can help point you to the right person.
Do I apply to the program, or does LIME do that?
You apply through The Paratus Group first — they issue the voucher. Once you have it, bring it to LIME. We verify it with the program manager and handle everything from there: equipment selection, installation, and invoicing Empire Offshore Wind LLC directly.
Do I pay anything out of pocket?
Not unless your selected equipment exceeds your voucher value. Commercial vessels receive up to $10,000; six-pack charters up to $5,000. LIME invoices Empire Offshore Wind LLC directly — you only pay the difference, if any. We'll show you options at multiple price points before ordering anything.
Why only solid-state radar?
Per a 2022 National Academies study, solid-state (pulse compression) radars outperform older magnetron radars near offshore wind turbines — they have faster response times, handle Doppler processing for moving target detection, and are more resistant to interference from rotating turbine blades.
What if I want equipment not on the approved list?
It may still be covered. For solid-state radar, AIS, or satellite internet not on the pre-approved list, LIME contacts the program manager for approval before purchasing with your voucher. We know this process and handle it for you — just tell us what you're looking for.
Do I need to bring my boat to a shop?
No. LIME comes to your boat at your marina. We serve all marinas across Nassau County and Suffolk County, Long Island.
Ready to use your Empire Wind voucher?
Call us or send a message. Have your voucher number ready — we verify it, help you choose, install it, and invoice Empire Wind directly. You're done.