Offshore staff
HAUGESUND, Norway – Edda Wind has signed long-term time charter agreements with MHI Vestas and Ocean Breeze Energy for two of the four offshore wind vessels ordered from Spanish yards.
The charter agreement with MHI Vestas for a newbuild service operation vessel (SOV) is expected to start in 2Q 2022 and has a firm period of 15 years.
The charter agreement with Ocean Breeze is expected to start in 1Q 2021 and has a firm period of 11 years. The contract will be served by a frontrunner vessel for the first year before the newbuild commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) will be delivered in 1Q 2022.
The CSOVs are 88.3 m (290 ft) and the SOVs 82.4 m (270 ft) in length. The CSOVs can accommodate up to 120 persons and the SOVs 60 persons.
Edda Wind has signed a construction contract for two CSOVs at Astilleros Gondan and a construction contract for two SOVs at Astilleros Balenciaga. Both yards are in northern Spain. The second SOV and the second CSOV will both be delivered in 4Q 2022. Edda Wind has also secured slots for more sister vessels. All vessels will be operated by Østensjø Rederi AS.
The newbuilds are designed by Salt Ship Design, Norway in close cooperation with Østensjø Rederi. According to the company, the vessels will be delivered with technology that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum 30%. Also, the vessels will be prepared for installation of zero emission hydrogen technology.
Kenneth Walland, CEO of Østensjø Rederi, said: “We firmly believe that the new Edda Wind vessels will be the first zero emission vessels in this market. Taking delivery of four vessels prepared for zero emission technology in the offshore wind market, will enable the company to engage several major players in the development phase of the required hydrogen infrastructure and facilitate the technology development for maritime hydrogen systems.”
The preparations for future zero emission propulsion systems are made possible by Enova funding. The upgrades include complete tank systems for hydrogen storage, dedicated machinery space for fuel cells, battery hybrid system, novel type propulsors and an extensive package of energy saving measures for most auxiliary systems such as HVAC and pumps systems.
Astrid Lilliestråle, Head of Transport at Enova, said: “In order to achieve zero-emission in offshore operations, there’s a need for new solutions both for further reduction of energy consumption and for utilizing alternative fuels. These vessels will contribute in both respects. The technologies developed and incorporated here will also be transferrable to other shipping segments.”
04/28/2020
