United Kingdom – VARD will design and construct three hybrid Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) for North Star Renewables, to be deployed on the Dogger Bank wind farm.
The SOVs were developed by VARD in close cooperation with Aberdeen-based North Star, which has secured 10-year charter contracts for the trio from Dogger Bank wind farm. The charters include options for three one-year extensions. Dogger Bank is currently under construction by joint-venture partners SSE Renewables, Equinor and Eni and when completed will be the worldā€™s largest offshore wind farm.
Logistics capability
The first 85-metre vessel has a beam of 19 metres and will be able to accommodate 78 crew members in single cabins.
Developed to perform corrective maintenance on Dogger Bank, the other VARD 4 12 pair will be 78 metres in length with a beam of 19 metres and accommodation for 60 persons in single cabins. The vessels are tailored for operations in the harsh North Sea environment.
SeaQ solutions
The hybrid vessels will be equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system, highly efficient main propellers, and tunnel thrusters with permanent magnet electric motors in combination with SeaQ solutions supplied by Vard Electro in Norway.
They will feature a fully integrated SeaQ ESS solution in combination with SeaQ IAS, SeaQ PMS, SeaQ EMS, and SeaQ Green Pilot for improved operational performance and reduced environmental footprint. The set-up makes it possible to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, in addition to enhance responsiveness and safety.
The three SOVs are set for handover to North Star in 2023. They will be built at VARDā€™s Vard Vung Tau shipyard in Vietnam.
