Norway’s Østensjø Rederi has signed a letter of intent for the construction of four Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) to meet the increasing demand in the offshore wind market.
The CSOVs are designed by Salt Ship Design, Norway in close cooperation with Østensjø Rederi. The vessels will be built at Astilleros Gondán, Spain.
The 88.3-metre vessels, to be delivered early 2022 and onwards, will serve as mother ships for wind turbine technicians as they perform commissioning and maintenance work on offshore wind turbines. Cabins and common areas can accommodate up to 97 technicians and 23 marine crew, 120 persons in total. Anti-heeling and roll reduction systems will provide a very stable working platform, and the motion-compensated gangway system with an adjustable pedestal will ensure safe and efficient connections to the turbines, Østensjø Rederi said.
“Østensjø Rederi is very excited about this newbuilding program. Significant growth is expected in the offshore wind market over the next decades, and we are confident these CSOVs will be the optimal and preferred tool for our clients. Østensjø Rederi has been working in the offshore wind market since 2016, and with the delivery of our first two Service Operation Vessels (SOV) in 2018, the company has established itself as a major player in this market. In addition to our existing vessels, both on long term contracts with Ørsted, the four newbuildings will further strengthen our market position in offshore wind,” said Kenneth Walland , CEO of Østensjø Rederi.
The vessels are equipped with a battery hybrid propulsion system, which together with other energy-saving equipment will reduce the emission of greenhouse gases significantly, the company said. The generators onboard are IMO tier 3 certified. Together with partners, Østensjø Rederi is working on developing new technologies based on hydrogen as an energy source. The newbuildings are prepared for future installation of this technology.