Norwegian ship designer and shipbuilder Ulstein plans to launch the second wind farm service operation vessel (SOV) built for Bernhard Schulte Offshore and chartered out to Siemens Wind Power Service from the dock hall at Ulstein Verft in two months’ time.
The vessel is expected to start sea trials by the end of the year, Ulstein said.
Her sister vessel, the Windea La Cour , is soon to be taken in use at the 600MW Gemini offshore wind farm off the coast of the Netherlands.
Both vessels are based on the SX175 design from Ulstein, and are equipped with the hull features X-BOW and X-STERN.
The hull features 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, Ulstein said.
The vessels have accommodation for 60 persons in single cabins, of which 40 cabins are dedicated to technicians.
The ship design and shipbuilding contract on the two SOVs was signed in 2015.