Norway-headquartered ship designer and shipbuilder Ulstein has launched its first ever wind farm service operation vessel (SOV) at its Ulstein Verft yard in Ulsteinvik.
The SOV, yet to be officially named, is the first of two being constructed for Bernhard Schulte Offshore. She is chartered out to Siemens Wind Power Service and will be servicing the Gemini offshore wind farm off the Netherlands once delivered in the second quarter of 2016.
Both vessels are based on the SX175 design from Ulstein, and are equipped with the hull features X-BOW and X-STERN in order to improve the sea characteristics when the vessels are positioned alongside the wind turbines during transferral of service technicians from the vessel through a heave compensated gangway.
The vessels have accommodation for 60 persons in single cabins, of which 40 cabins are dedicated to technicians. The final detailed arrangements and equipment for the vessels have been developed and specified in cooperation with Windea Offshore GmbH & Co. KG, which is the Bernhard Schulte Offshore’s affiliate for offshore wind projects.
The ship design and shipbuilding contract on the two SOVs were signed in 2015.
You can see the vessel getting ready for the launch in the video below.