New offshore wind SOV design unveiled

Written by Nick Blenkey
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JULY 14, 2015 — The new OAV (Offshore Assistance Vessel) SR1 design aims to bring passenger vessel comfort and full North Sea operational capability to the offshore wind Service Operation Vessels (SOV) sector.

The vessel has been developed by two Hamburg, Germany, headquartered companies: SeaRenergy Offshore Holding GmbH & Cie. KG, which provides a range of services to the offshore wind energy, and ship design specialist HeavyLift@Sea.

In consideration of wave lengths in the North Sea, the vessel’s length is 72 m and it meets passenger class requirements set by the 2006 Maritime Labor Convention.

The shape of the vessel is designed to reduce motions and increase comfort for technicians in order to mitigate risk of sea sickness and weather downtime, especially in the harsh conditions of the North Sea. It accommodates up to 60 persons in comfortable single cabins, embedded in a true passenger ship class vessel including two day rooms, auditorium and a fitness room.

The vessel is designed to stay on location for several weeks offering more working time and less time in transit. It is configured to enable an efficient flow of people and spare parts around the vessel. A motion compensated gangway, accessible directly from the elevator, gives direct access to wind turbines and offshore platforms in significant wave heights of up to 2.5 m, arranged for workability at water levels of +/- 4.0 m around MSL.

The hatch covers of the cargo hold can be operated with the vessel’s own crane autonomously while a cargo transfer system allows a barrier-free handling of spare parts and components of is possible up to 300 kg without using a crane.

The vessel carries a daughter craft in its own hangar at the stern. The daughter craft provides as a second way of accessing offshore structures.

Analysts see a growing demand for SOVs and Hendrik Groene, Managing Director of Heavylift@Sea says that already the new vessel class of vessels is replacing older units coming into the sector from the oil & gas market.

“Demand for SOVs will grow with commissioned wind farms,” says Dr. Benjamin Vordemfelde, Managing Director of SeaRenergy. “SOVs are an attractive market segment with an excellent perspective offering stable growth and attractive charters. Therefore we see the market entry into the SOV segment as the logical next step to develop our company further and also meet the growing demand for this new vessel class.”

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