Offshore staff
HOUSTON – ABS has granted a second approval in principle (AIP) to Vard Marine (VARD) for a larger design variant of a Jones Act service operations vessel (SOV).
The first ABS AIP was awarded last year for the VARD 4 07 US SOV. This was the first Jones Act SOV AIP awarded, the company said.
This recent AIP, which was awarded on June 19, 2020, addresses a customized version of the VARD 4 19 US SOV design, with primary functions including accommodation, transferring technicians to installations as well as storing spare parts and tools for operations in US offshore wind farms.
VARD said it designed the vessel to be environmentally friendly with a focus on low fuel consumption and ease of construction. The design incorporates a hull form designed for all weather conditions which, together with the specified propulsion configuration, offers economical steaming, enhanced seakeeping abilities, and excellent station keeping performance. The vessel is optimized to reduce motions and accelerations in all degrees of freedom with the aim to increase operability and comfort.
The vessel will have the ABS Class notations + A1, OFFSHORE SUPPORT VESSEL (WIND-SC), +AMS, + ACCU, DPS-2, HAB(WB.)
Darren Truelock, vice president, Vard Marine Houston, said: “We believe that the US offshore wind market holds several promising opportunities for US owners, designers, and shipbuilders. The US market seems to be moving quickly starting on the East Coast, so a purpose-built US offshore wind Jones Act fleet is inevitable. This creates some challenges for US designers and shipbuilders since the necessary SOVs need to be under construction now to support the developer’s schedules.
“Delivery schedules and price points over the next year will be tested and squeezed in order to bring the right vessels online at the right time and within budget.”
08/05/2020
