Page 35: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 2021)

OFFSHORE WIND VESSELS by a height compensating landing platform, will be used for ferrying workers and equipment to the individual turbines for maintenance and repairs.

The choice of ECO (with an OSV ? eet active in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska and in Brazil) as a builder underscores an important trend: the transfer of offshore oil and gas experi- ence (and on occasion actual vessels) into the burgeoning wind arena. But with offshore wind driven by a pivot away from fossil fuels, the “green” aspects are critical in the new wave of service vessels to be built; every newbuild or design announcement checks that box. On the ECO newbuilds, the electric motors tied to the vessel’s cyclorotor propellers will employ a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD), in a design pro- prietary to ECO.

SOV Designs for the U.S. Market

Multiple SOV designs have been announced for the U.S. markets. Vard Marine, the ship design arm of Fincantieri, has received Approvals in Principle (AIP) for two SOV’s that could be built in U.S. yards. The compact 4 07 design, with 2,700 kW of propulsion power (suitable to carry 60 techni- cians) was announced in late 2019, while the larger 4 19, with 3,000 kW of propulsion power and capable to carry 90 techni- cians, gained the AIP in August, 2020. The 4 19 layout (with a full size helideck, and a 27m gangway) contemplates that battery power could be added later on, with space on deck for a future retro? t.

Wärtsilä Marine has also presented a 76m Jones Act compli-

Bureau Veritas ant SOV design, which it describes as a “ hybrid multi-pur- between shore and the wind farm, weather related availability pose SOV,” adding that: “The designers also worked closely and passenger comfort and safety.” with classi? cation societies including DNV and ABS, which

Recent months have seen a raft of new design and construc- both provided valuable input to the vessel design.” Its an- tion announcements. In the U.S. market, energy behemoth nouncement stresses that its “data driven” design process and

Ørsted, in conjunction with regional utility Eversource, an- its proprietary tools for optimizing engine performance. Wärt- nounced they were entering into a long-term charter on a silä also stresses the importance of integrating the vessel’s dy-

Jones Act quali? ed SOV that would initially be operating out namic positioning system (where it has extensive experience of a base to be built in Port Jefferson on Long Island, serving linking DP with propulsion) to components such as the walk three projects in the Northeast: Revolution Wind, South Fork to work gangway.

Wind and Sunrise Wind. “Chartering strategies for SOVs, or Vessel designers Technology Associates Inc. (TAI), based

CTVs for windfarms closer to shore, are still emerging,” said in New Orleans, have adapted its designs, well known in the

Lewis. “As an example, turbine OEMs could possibly employ Gulf of Mexico’s oil and gas business, to the wind sector. The an SOV across multiple installations, during the commission- designer has introduced its EnviroMax Diesel-Electric Hybrid ing and warranty phases.” Service Operation Vessel (SOV) speci? cations for installation

The description of the 260-ft. EPA Tier 4 compliant diesel and maintenance of offshore wind farms. The TAI EnviroMax electric vessel, to be built in yards owned by privately held Ed- series of vessels have been designed to maximize operation- ison Chouest Offshore (ECO), highlights the key attributes for al capabilities, minimize fuel consumption and carbon foot

SOVs. ECO describes the newbuild as “… a special-purpose print. TAI’s EnviroMax SOV designs are being offered in the design with focus on passenger comfort and safety, enhanced “S” (Small), “M” (Medium) and “L” (Large) Classes.

maneuverability and ship motions, extended offshore endur-

Coming to America ance and reduced emissions.” The vessel, as described, will have accommodation for 60 passengers, with a below deck Northern Europe is where the offshore wind business be- warehouse (served by an elevator). A daughter craft, served gan, but the U.S. growth projections are attracting these Eu- www.marinelink.com 35

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