IWS second Skywalker class vessel moves forward with steel cutting

Norway/China – The first steel for Integrated Wind Solutions’s (IWS) second Construction Service Operation Vessel has been cut at the China Merchants Heavy Industry facility in Jiangsu, China.

IWS Windwalker will be the name of the ship. The steel cutting for the class’s first vessel, IWS Skywalker, took place in January 2022.

The IWS Windwalker is the second vessel in the IWS Fleet’s Skywalker class, and it was built to support commissioning work during the construction of wind farms, as well as operations and maintenance during the lifetime of bottom-fixed and floating offshore wind farms.

These hybrid-powered vessels will be among the first in the industry to operate with zero emissions. Kongsberg Maritime designed the vessels, which are outfitted with MacGregor’s latest generation fully compensated gangway and crane. The vessel has a number of “industry firsts,” including the largest battery pack with solar panels for additional charging, a hull and propulsion design that improves operability while lowering emissions, and an estimated energy consumption of 20% less than other CSOVs currently under construction.

Advanced technology

The ships are also the first in the industry to be designated with the “DNV SILENT” notation, which focuses on reducing the impact on marine life below the surface. The Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment (ENOVA) has provided EUR 1 million per vessel to support IWS Skywalker and IWS Windwalker’s environmental initiatives. The advanced technology of the vessels will reduce annual emissions by over 1,300 tonnes of CO2 equivalents per vessel.

IWS Windwalker is currently undecided, and the company is weighing a variety of options. The first vessel of this class, IWS Skywalker, will begin its first contract at the Dogger Bank Wind Farm in summer 2023, immediately after delivery. SSE, Equinor, and ENI are the owners of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm. To meet the high market demand for these types of ships, IWS Fleet is in talks to order more Skywalker class ships for delivery in early 2024.