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UK-based ship designer Chartwell Marine and Fincantieri-controlled Norwegian shipbuilder Vard have introduced vessel design for the offshore wind sector aimed to fill a new operational role between crew transfer vessels (CTVs) and service operation vessels (SOVs).
Dubbed the midi-SOV, the 55-m unit is slated for both the US and European markets in 2024.
The new design comes on the back of increased demand for ever-larger CTVs, with larger teams of technicians operating on increasingly scaled-up turbines. However, according to Chartwell Marine, owing to challenges in seakeeping and hospitality, merely increasing the dimensions of current CTV designs to create more capacity is not feasible.
With the offshore wind industry facing high inflation and increasing costs in its development pipeline, Chartwell Marine said the ‘midi SOV’ has been designed from the ground up to prioritise stability and operability and to be a cost-effective solution.
The developers claim the vessel’s size hits the ‘sweet spot’ for commercial and operational viability. It incorporates a low waterplane shape that broadens above the waterline, minimising and dampening roll motion, allowing the vessel to remain stable during operations and facilitating walk-to-work capabilities that were previously challenging for smaller-scaled traditional SOVs.
The vessel can be equipped with methanol-diesel engines, electric propulsion, and a supporting energy storage system. It boasts a capacity of 36 single bunk cabins for special-purpose ship crew, 20 crew cabins, and crew facilities.
“Never before has there been such a pressing need to develop offshore wind vessels that are reactive to evolving operational and financial conditions, said Andy Page, director at Chartwell Marine, adding: “The midi-SOV offers a cost-efficient alternative to full-sized SOVs, contributing to the industry’s overall sustainability. We’re putting a strong emphasis on having these vessels manufactured locally, with US-built vessels Americanised for the US market and Europe-built vessels for European operations. Chartwell is leading the charge in CTVs; Vard is a pioneer in the SOV space, so the midi-SOV is the best of both worlds.”
Simulation and model testing was conducted in collaboration with Seaspeed Marine Consulting, with support from Clarksons, North Star and Voith throughout the development phase. Vard committed to developing the design to market after conducting due diligence on the vessel design earlier this year.
Runar Vågnes, senior vice president of sales at Vard, added: “With the introduction of the midi-SOV, Chartwell Marine and Vard are leading the way in opening up a new segment in the offshore wind industry enabling sustainable business at sea, bringing forth a vessel that combines innovation, efficiency, and sustainability.” |
