Cemre Shipyard in Turkey has organised a launching ceremony for a service operation vessel (SOV) ordered by Esvagt and chartered by MHI Vestas Offshore Wind.
Once delivered later this year, the Havyard-designed SOV will service Nobelwind and Belwind offshore wind farms in Belgium under a 10-year charter deal .
Due to the distance of the wind farms from shore, the technicians will work and live on the vessel for two-week periods. The vessel will also function as a floating warehouse, storing spare parts and tools for servicing wind turbines offshore.
MHI Vestas explained that using the service vessel means more focus on ensuring maximum availability of the wind turbines, since less time is spent in transition.
The new vessel is 58.5m long, with a beam of 16.6m and will be able to accommodate up to 22 technicians, all in single cabins.
It will be equipped with dynamic positioning technology, and two safe transfer boats to transfer technicians, tools and spare parts to the turbines.
Image and video: Cemre Shipyard