Norwind Offshore in Norway has declared options for the design and construction of two Commissioning Service Operations Vessels (CSOVs). with Vard of Norway, along with agreement on options for two additional vessels.
The new vessels are of Vard 4 19 design, developed by Vard Design in Ålesund in close cooperation with the customer. The CSOVs are scheduled for delivery in 2024 and 2025. The first vessel will be equipped and delivered by Vard Brattvaag in Norway. The hull will be built by Vard Braila in Romania. The second vessel will be built and delivered by Vard Vung Tau in Vietnam.
Norwind Offshore has already two newbuildings under construction at Vard in addition to the conversion of a PSV into a Service Operation Vessel (SOV).
Svein Leon Aure, CEO Norwind Offshore said: “We are pleased to have secured two additional sister vessels from Vard in our new build program, which will be vessels number four and five in the Norwind Offshore fleet. The positive feedback from offshore wind operators, both on these state-of-the-art vessels and Norwind Offshore’s operational model, has been exceptionally strong. This has enabled us to execute on our growth strategy and the additional vessels represent an important milestone on our path to become a leading pure play offshore wind company. We are also delighted to have secured a contract for our first vessel from Vard, the Norwind Breeze, with one of the major operators within the offshore wind market. The vessel will go directly on hire upon delivery in May from Vard Brattvaag in Norway. It is a huge motivation to be able to contribute to the Green Transition from within the maritime cluster.”
Fredrik Mordal Hessen, GM Offshore and Specialised vessels, Vard, said: “The new contracts and the delivery program of a total of five specialized vessels to Norwind Offshore contributes to strengthen Vard’s leading position within the market for offshore windfarm support vessels. We truly appreciate the cooperation with Norwind Offshore, and that we with these projects will further develop our relationship by building two new offshore wind service vessels. We are happy to see that the new, local shipowner is about to establish themselves as a significant player in the fast-growing offshore wind market, and not least that they involve Vard as ship designer, ship builder and technology provider in this exciting venture. The projects will give work to our yards in Norway, Romania and Vietnam. These contracts are important steps for delivering on our new strategy in Vard and are also in line with our mission to enable sustainable maritime operations.”
The Vard 4 19 design is a versatile platform for sustainable offshore windfarm support operations, focusing on onboard logistics, security, comfort, and superior operability. The 85m vessels have a beam of 19.5m and will be equipped with a height-adjustable motion-compensated gangway with elevator system and a height-adjustable boat landing system. The vessels will be prepared for installation of battery solutions. The CSOVs will have accommodation for 87 persons on board.
The newbuildings will have Vard Electro’s SeaQ Integrated Bridge System installed, – a bridge designed with the operator in focus, with an emphasis on ease of operation, safety, and ergonomics. For control and monitoring of the vessels’ systems and overview of emissions, the newbuildings will be equipped with Vard Electro’s SeaQ Integrated Alarm System (IAS), Power Management System (PMS), and Energy Management System (EMS).
