The ‘Grampian Tees’ wind farm service operation vessel (SOV) for operator North Star, the third of four purpose designed and built SOVs destined to support operations and maintenance (O&M) work at the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm on long-term charter, has been delivered from Vard’s shipyard in Vietnam.
The Grampian Tees is based on the Vard 4 12 hull design and has been developed with North Star specifically to handle planned maintenance on the Dogger Bank A, B and C sites and tailored for effective and efficient operations in the harsh North Sea environment more than 130km off the north-east coast of England. Once the windfarm is fully operational, it will become the largest in the world.
Crew and client well-being is vital to ensure safe and efficient operations, with workflow, comfort and facilities on board a strong focus throughout the process. Another key design element was to ensure efficient logistics, with all vessels incorporating a height-adjustable, motion-compensated gangway with elevator system, a height-adjustable boat transfer system, as well as a 3D-compensated crane for cargo transfer. The ships are 78m in length with a beam of 19m and accommodation for 60 persons in single cabins.
For optimal efficiency, the vessel includes a diesel-electric propulsion system, bolstered by a battery hybrid power management and architecture. It incorporates Voith eVSP propulsion and a drop-down azimuth thruster. Additionally, the vessel benefits from the comprehensive SeaQ power package delivered by Vard Electro, providing complete control over the onboard power systems. This integration allows for reduced fuel consumption, minimised emissions, improved responsiveness, and enhanced safety.
In May 2023, North Star contracted Vard for up to a further four new offshore wind vessels. These new commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs) are part of North Star’s ambition of expanding its fleet to 40 renewable energy support ships fleet by 2040.
