Offshore wind installation specialist DEME is investing in its first service operation vessel (SOV)
The design was developed by DEME in close cooperation with Vuyk Engineering Rotterdam and Maritime Research Institute Netherlands.
The keel-laying ceremony took place on 13 December at Cemre shipyard in Turkey.
The SOV will feature a small waterplane area twin hull (SWATH) hullform that will reduce the effect on the vessel of wave impacts when approaching the wind turbines, compared to a conventional monohull SOV.
The vessel will enable safe crew transfers in significant wave heights of up to 2.5 m.
At 60 m long, the SOV will be equipped with a motion-compensated gangway and daughter craft to safely transfer technicians to wind turbines, increasing the workability and logistics capabilities of the vessel. It is also designed according to the latest comfort standards, allowing the vessel to be a comfortable offshore base for up to 24 technicians plus crew.
DEME said environmental considerations were an important element of the design with among other things, a waste heat recovery system fitted, and the adoption of Clean Design class notation.
“With DP2 dynamic positioning technology, the vessel will be able to hold position in rough sea conditions and operate with reduced fuel consumption compared to conventional SOVs,” DEME claimed. “A reduction of fuel consumption up to 50% can be achieved compared to a monohull SOV.”
DEME Offshore business unit director Michael Glavind said, “We believe the twin-hulled design, a motion-compensated gangway and dynamic positioning is a winning combination and will further reduce the costs of windfarm maintenance compared to large monohulls.
“With this first SOV joining our fleet, we are further strengthening our capabilities and are able to offer the full offshore wind package, from installation to maintenance.”
Due for delivery in 2021, the SOV will be chartered by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy as part of a long-term maintenance contract for the Rentel and Mermaid & Seastar (SeaMade) offshore windfarms in Belgium. This is the first SOV to serve three different wind farm sites.
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