Ostensjo orders second wind farm SOV

MAY 9, 2016 — Norway’s Østensjø Rederi is to order a second Service Operation Vessel (SOV) to DONG Energy at Spanish shipbuilder Astilleros Gondan. It will be a sister vessel to the SOV ordered by Østensjø at the Gondon shipyard last October (see earlier story).

That vessel is being built to service a five year contract from DONG Energy that will see it act as a mother ship for wind turbine technicians as they perform maintenance work on Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm in the U.K. DONG Energy has now declared an option with Østensjø for a second SOV for a period of five years firm and five optional years for operations at the Hornsea Project One offshore wind farm in the U.K.

The 81.10 m long vessel, with a beam of 17.0 m, is set for delivery in third quarter 2018.

The vessel is a DP2 Service Operation Vessel with high station keeping capacities. Its 60 single cabins can accommodate up to 40 wind turbine technicians in addition to a marine crew of 20.

A motion compensated gangway system with an adjustable pedestal will be installed to ensure safe operations and optimal uptime.

Special areas and functions of the vessel are being provided in accordance with the charterer’s requirements. The vessel is expected to be equipped with a helideck.

The Service Operation Vessels are designed by Rolls Royce in close cooperation with Østensjø Rederi.

Astilleros Gondan is currently building three tugs for Østensjø Rederi in addition to the two SOVs.

“The new award is a further recognition of Østensjø efforts to expand our business into the renewable energy sector, following the strategy to diversify our operations. We are therefore very pleased that DONG Energy again has awarded us an exciting and important opportunity,” says Kenneth Walland, CEO of Østensjø Rederi AS.