Entities that are part of Japanese shipping giant NYK Group have reached agreement with leading players in the offshore wind market in Europe to provide a range of services and vessels for the nascent Japanese market
In 2019 a new law came into force in Japan that aims to facilitate the development of offshore wind projects. As a result, demand in the offshore wind market is expected to increase.
The Japanese company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Van Oord in the Netherlands to jointly own and operate offshore wind installation vessels under the Japanese flag, and has reached a similar agreement with Northern Offshore Group (N-O-G), owner of Northern Offshore Services (N-O-S), to co-operate on constructing and operating crew transfer vessels.
The agreement with Van Oord will draw on the Dutch company’s technical and operational expertise in offshore wind and NYK Group’s knowledge of the Japanese market. The installation vessels covered in the agreement will be used to transport and install foundations and wind turbines for offshore windfarms.
NYK and Van Oord are also exploring opportunities to collaborate on other types of vessels required for constructing and operating offshore windfarms.
Van Oord has been involved in more than 40 offshore wind projects as an engineering, procurement, construction and installation contractor in Europe. NYK Group manages and operates more than 700 vessels, both internationally and locally and the group has long-term experience of reflagging vessels and operating them under the Japanese flag. This is a requirement for offshore wind contractors when working in Japanese territorial waters.
The objective of the memorandum signed by NYK and N-O-G is to define the terms of a joint study to build and operate crew transfer vessels in Japan.
N-O-S chief executive David Kristensson said, “Our joint effort with NYK will be a stepping stone for us to become a global player in the offshore wind market.”
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