Page 42: of Marine News Magazine (August 2020)

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one hundred

Credit: WindServe Marine series (built at Eastern Shipbuilding, in Florida) and its

Vard multipurpose vessels (built at the same yard) include a

European expertise will be vital for the U.S. However, pair built for Harvey Marine. Its designs are also found in as activity ramps up on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf, Hornbeck’s OSV ? eet.

Jones Act compliant service vessels will be needed. Vard, through its engineering and naval architectural arm based

Wärtsilä in British Columbia (and a part of the Fincantieri Group)

This Helsinki-based solutions provider for the marine won Approval in Principle from the American Bureau of and energy segments has been at the forefront of recent de-

Shipping, in late 2019, for a service vessel that would be velopments in optimized vessel performance, and has been compatible with Jones Act requirements. In Vard’s an- taking a long term view on developments in the burgeon- nouncement, it noted that: “We already have experience ing wind power sector. In April, 2020, Wärtsilä explained supporting yards worldwide to construct our offshore ves- in a presentation, “The opportunities for SOV and large sel designs, so it is with great enthusiasm that we now start installation vessels fall into two categories: retro? tting and on this exciting journey with ABS in the U.S.” new builds. Much of the opportunity for conversions/ret-

The vessel design is a bespoke version of Vard’s 4 07 ro? t projects is in the U.S. market, as strong growth con- service operation vessel (SOV), with the standard design tinues there.” When it comes to newbuilds, Wärtsilä has described as “a suitable vessel for small wind parks in a design for SOVs, which it markets in conjunction with harsher environment. Despite the cost effective size, the its packages which integrate the bridge, engine room and operability is close to that of most larger SOVs. This is be- other increasingly complex systems.

cause of the large centermounted gangway, good motion

As projects move into deeper waters, and heavier turbines characteristics and DP capability.” Vard’s Offshore renew- become the norm, the nature of vessel demand is likely tilt- ables team, based in Norway, explains that it is “offering ed towards newbuilds, with Wärtsilä saying, “In the U.S. vessel solutions for the entire offshore renewables value offshore wind farm market, the operators are preparing for chain, including offshore wind, tidal and wave power. the possibility of building type-speci? c SOVs that can ac-

This includes wind farm support vessels with high focus commodate the usually land-based wind turbine techni- on ef? cient logistics, crew and technician comfort, and cians while conducting the maintenance of the offshore high operability.” Vard designed vessels include platform wind farms,” says Blake Jackson, a U.S.-based sales man- supply vessels, anchor handlers and subsea construction ager for Wärtsilä Marine Business. In further enumerating vessels. Its offshore service vessels include the Bravante the “must have” features of such craft, he said, “These ves-

August 2020 42 MN