French shipping company LD Armateurs has reached another milestone in the development of its offshore wind fleet with the successful launch of ‘Wind of Ocean’, the first of two next-generation service operation vessels (SOVs) being built for Vattenfall.
Launched at ZPMC shipyard in China, the vessel now enters the next phase of construction, including outfitting, systems integration and sea trials ahead of scheduled delivery in 2027.
Once delivered, Wind of Ocean will operate on the DanTysk and Sandbank offshore wind farms in the North Sea, providing accommodation for technicians as well as the safe and efficient transfer of personnel and equipment to offshore wind turbines.
With an overall length of 90m and a beam of 19.6m, the vessel will accommodate up to 96 people on board, including crew members and offshore technicians. Developed in partnership with Salt Ship design of Norway, Wind of Ocean incorporates several innovations designed to enhance operational performance while reducing environmental impact. The vessel features a hybrid-electric propulsion system combining diesel generators with a significantly enhanced battery energy storage system. Compared with LD Armateurs’ previous SOV generation, this new architecture improves energy efficiency, reduces fuel consumption and lowers both emissions and onboard noise levels.
One of the vessel’s most distinctive features is its double-ended design, a first for LD Armateurs on this type of vessel. Thanks to a simpler and more flexible architecture consisting in a symmetrical hull form and four identical azimuth thrusters, the vessel delivers enhanced DP performance, greater manoeuvrability and simplified maintenance, while improving efficiency during offshore operations and noise and vibration reduction in the accommodation areas.
Wind of Ocean is equipped with a next-generation motion-compensated gangway, enabling the safe transfer of technicians and equipment to offshore wind turbines in challenging sea conditions. Following launch, Wind of Ocean will undergo the next stages of construction, including the installation of propulsion equipment, electrical systems, accommodation areas and mission-critical onboard technologies before entering sea trials.
Image: ‘Wind of Ocean’ (source: LD Armateurs)
