Offshore staff
ÅLESUND, Norway — Vard has signed contracts with North Star for the design and construction of two commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs).
There is an option to add two further ships.
North Star employs 1,300 crew and onshore personnel and is said to operate the largest UK-owned North Sea fleet, with a commitment to broadening its fleet to 40 offshore vessels by 2040 to meet demand for offshore wind operations and maintenance (O&M) logistical support across the UK and Europe.
The vessels’ VARD 4 22 design features a hull form optimized for low fuel consumption and resistance, high operability and comfort, Vard said, along with new methanol ready hybrid-propulsion solutions and an increased number of single cabins for technicians working offshore.
In 2021 North Star ordered four SOV newbuilds from VARD in Vietnam, all of which will support the Dogger Bank wind farm in the UK southern North Sea on long-term charters. The first three ships should start operations this year, ahead of schedule, with the final one to be delivered in 2024.
The new CSOVs will be equipped with technology from Vard Electro’s SeaQ portfolio, covering solutions for power, control, bridge and navigation, and communication.
05.09.2023
