SOVs – Analyzing Current, Future Demand Drivers
![Norwind Offshore service operation vessel ‘Norwind Breeze’ in the port of Emden
Copyright Björn Wylezich/AdobeStock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/rwind-offshore-service-operation-vessel-149604.jpg)
At a high-level, there are three solutions to transferring technicians from shore bases to offshore wind farms for construction and O&M activities: crew transfer vessel (CTV), helicopter, and SOVs/CSOVs.SOVs and CSOVs generally house 60-120 technicians offshore for a few weeks at a time, allowing them to transfer to structures on integrated heave compensated gangways, by daughter craft or on CTVs. The vessels are also equipped with cranes, storage, and small workshop areas.SOV: Service operations vessels…
New York Not Moving Forward With Three Offshore Wind Farms
![© Global Image Archive / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/global-image-archive-adobe-stock-149420.jpeg)
New York State on Friday stalled three major offshore wind-energy projects after General Electric Vernova GE.N changed the turbine design, which the state said "materially altered" the plans.New York provisionally approved the projects in October 2023. They are Attentive Energy One being developed by TotalEnergies, Rise Light & Power and Corio Generation; Community Offshore Wind, which is backed by RWE and National Grid Ventures; and Vineyard Offshore's Excelsior Wind.But since then…
New England Offshore Wind Auction Draws Multiple Bidders
![© Fokke Baarssen / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/fokke-baarssen-adobe-stock-148827.jpeg)
Several offshore wind developers bid in a combined Connecticut-Massachusetts-Rhode Island offshore wind solicitation on Wednesday, including units of European energy firms Iberdrola and Orsted.The U.S. offshore wind industry is booming so far this year, with several projects in various stages of development and construction, after a disastrous 2023 of developers cancelling contracts and taking roughly $9.1 billion in write-offs and impairments on U.S. projects.So far, Avangrid…
Ørsted Powers Up All Turbines at First US Commercial-Scale Offshore Wind Farm
![(Credit: Ørsted)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/credit-rsted-148501.jpg)
Ørsted has installed and powered up all 12 turbines at the landmark South Fork project, and the first utility-scale U.S. offshore wind farm has started delivering power to Long Island and the Rockaways, offshore New York.The commissioning of the wind farm is in its final stage, and when at full capacity of 130 MW, it will generate enough renewable energy to power approximately 70,000 homes.The renewable energy is generated roughly 35 miles off the coast of Montauk, and will eliminate up to six million tons of carbon emissions over the life of the project…
Norway Offers $193 Million Funding to Arctic Floating Wind Farm Project
![© Marc Dyck / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/marc-dyck-adobe-stock-148353.jpeg)
A floating offshore wind farm planned in Arctic waters on Friday received 2 billion Norwegian crowns ($193 million) in state funding, with Norway viewing the still costly technology as a key contributor for industry development and emission cuts.The GoliatVind project in the Barents Sea, consisting of five 15 megawatts turbines and seeking to supply power to the Arctic town of Hammerfest, beat out six other applicants in a tender by government agency Enova.Norway hopes that floating offshore wind will provide an industrial future for its offshore supply industry as well as a means of cutting e
Siem Offshore Secures Contract Extension for Multi-Purpose Support Vessel
![Siem Dorado MPSV (Credit: Siem Offshore)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/siem-dorado-mpsv-credit-siem-148325.jpg)
Norwegian offshore vessel owner Siem Offshore has been awarded a contract extension for the multi-purpose support vessel (MPSV) Siem Dorado.According to Siem Offshore, the extension secures the utilization of Siem Dorado MPSV for a period reaching towards the end of the fourth quarter in 2024.The contract is expected to start in direct continuation of the current contract with continued operations expected outside the North Sea.The Siem Dorado is a 2009-built diesel electric-driven vessel.
US Offshore Wind: Down but Not Out
![© Eric Dale Creative / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/eric-dale-creative-adobe-stock-148148.jpeg)
“The winds of change are blowing wild and free.” – Bob DylanIn the U.S. offshore wind industry, developments over recent months have placed an exclamation point on the word “wild”. Yes, the wind still blows “free”, but mounting challenges have proven that harnessing its power offshore is anything but. In fact, far from it, as rising materials costs, high interest rates, labor shortages and supply chain delays, among other issues, have delivered heavy blows to the commercial viability of several projects.
New York Awards Equinor and Orsted New Offshore Wind Contracts
![© Fokke Baarssen / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/fokke-baarssen-adobe-stock-148129.jpeg)
New York officials on Thursday awarded provisional contracts to two proposed offshore wind projects under a program meant to support the embattled industry and keep the state's clean energy goals on track.The state selected a planned 810-megawatt project, Empire Wind 1, (developed by Equinor) and Sunrise Wind, a planned 924-megawatt project (developed by Orsted and Eversource).The closely watched solicitation by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)…
Five Turbines Power Up at Vineyard Wind
![(Photo: Vineyard Wind)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-vineyard-wind-147927.jpg)
Renewable energy firm Avangrid and fund manager Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners said on Thursday their joint venture, Vineyard Wind 1, has begun operations at five of its wind turbines, supplying 68 megawatts (MW) to the New England grid.Currently, the project has successfully installed nine turbines and is in the process of installing the 10th, with preparations underway to transport the 11th turbine to the offshore project site.Offshore wind projects in the U.S.
DNV Updates ‘Go-To Standard’ for Offshore Energy Operations
![© Zacharias / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/zacharias-adobe-stock-147540.jpeg)
DNV has published a substantial revision to the ‘go-to standard’, DNV-ST-N001, for the design and planning of marine operations for the transport, installation and removal of offshore wind farms, subsea cables and oil and gas assets.The new major changes reflect the changing nature of the offshore industry in line with its support of the energy transition, ensuring that the standard remains relevant and supports the development of cost-effective marine operations during a fast-evolving energy transition.DNV…
North Star to Deliver Hybrid-Electric SOV for German Offshore Wind Farm
![North Star's new SOV (Credit: North Star)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/north-stars-new-sov-credit-147362.jpg)
North Star has secured a contract with energy utility giant EnBW to deliver a new hybrid-electric service operations vessel (SOV) on a decade-long minimum charter to service the He Dreiht wind farm off the coast of Germany.The agreement marks the company’s first offshore wind move outside the UK market, a milestone mark in its ambitious European growth strategy to add 40 new SOVs to its fleet by 2040.The newbuild is of VARD 407 design which has been tailored to meet EnBW’s specific…
New Fortress Energy Gets US Clearance to Ship Altamira LNG
![(Credit: New Fortress Energy)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/credit-new-fortress-energy-147324.jpg)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a ruling to New Fortress Energy, confirming that the transportation of LNG produced at the its FLNG facility located offshore Altamira in Mexico by non-U.S. qualified vessels would not violate the Jones Act.As a result of this ruling, NFE is now able to sell and deliver LNG produced at its FLNG facility located offshore Altamira, Mexico to U.S. locations, including Puerto Rico.Puerto Rico represents a key downstream market for New Fortress Energy…
Skandi Emerald AHTS Set for Petrofac’s Northern Endeavour FPSO Job
![Skandi Emerald AHTS vessel (Credit: DDW Offshore)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/skandi-emerald-ahts-vessel-credit-147297.jpg)
Akastor's subsidiary DDW Offshore has secured a contract extension with Petrofac for its AHTS vessel that will be put on the Northern Endeavour FPSO disconnection job offshore Australia.The contract extension follows the original one-year contract Petrofac signed with DDW Offshore for the AHTS vessel Skandi Atlantic back in September 2022.Petrofac has now awarded DDW Offshore a 9-month extension of the existing contract in Australia whereby Skandi Emerald will replace Skandi Atlantic in March 2024.The contract will last until year-end 2024, DDW Offshore informed.Skandi Emerald will continue to
New York Offshore Wind Power Auction Set for Big Turnout
![© Photocreo Bednarek / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photocreo-bednarek-adobe-stock-147211.jpeg)
Several offshore wind developers will likely bid in New York's fourth offshore wind solicitation by the Thursday deadline, including units of European energy firms Orsted, Equinor and BP.The development of the U.S. offshore wind industry took a major blow last year when companies working in several states said they could no longer complete projects profitably because of rocketing construction costs, higher interest rates and supply chain snags. The problems also hit the wind industry in other countries.The development of the industry is key to meeting both U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S.
Argeo Searcher Set to Sail to Indian Ocean after Shell’s Nigeria Task
![(Credit: Argeo)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/credit-argeo-147077.jpg)
Oslo-listed offshore service company Argeo has informed that its DP2 vessel Argeo Searcher completed the deepwater inspection services at Shell’s Bonga field, and is scheduled to set sail to Indian Ocean for a job with India’s National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR).In a vessel schedule update, released on January 22, 2024, Argeo confirmed its current backlog includes close to $53 million (NOK 550 million), with a further sales and revenue potential of additional $19 million (NOK 200) million for Argeo Searcher vessel in the second half of 2024.According to the company…
Jan De Nul Reels In Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 Export Cable Job
![Connector CLV (Credit: Jan De Nul)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/connector-clv-credit-jan-de-147206.jpg)
Belgium-based offshore installation contractor Jan De Nul has signed the export cable contract with Ørsted for its 2.9 GW Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm in the U.K.Jan De Nul will be responsible for the seabed preparation, transport, installation and protection of 350 km of DC export cables connecting the wind farm to the U.K. electricity grid.For the installation and protection of the DC export cables, the company is going to deploy several vessels.Cable-laying vessels Isaac Newton and Connector will transport and install the cables…
Solstad Offshore Hooks $70M in CSV Contracts with Petrobras
![CSV Normand Fortress (Credit: Solstad Offshore)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/csv-normand-fortress-credit-solstad-147113.jpg)
Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has secured $70 million in new contracts and extensions for two of its subsea construction vessels (CSV) that will be employed offshore Brazil.The new contract is for the CSV Normand Fortress with Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras.The contract has a duration of two years firm with possibility of two years extension. The vessel will provide accommodation services to support production activities on Brazilian continental shelf.The contract is set to start in the second quarter of 2024…
INEOS FPS Picks Liebherr’s RL 650 Offshore Crane for Unity Platform
![The Unity Platform (Photo supplied by Liebherr)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/the-unity-platform-photo-supplied-147126.jpg)
INEOS Forties Pipeline System (FPS) has selected Liebherr for the supply of a new Ram Luffing (RL) series offshore crane for its Unity Platform in the UK North Sea.After more than 30 years of service, the currently installed RL crane on the Unity Platform has run its course, and will be replaced by Liebherr’s RL 650 technology.The RL 650 crane, said to be particularly suitable for a Not Permanently Attended Installation (NPAI), will fulfil all material handling for the offshore platform…
Red Rock to Supply Cranes for New Nexans Aurora Cable Layer
![(Credit: Image supplied by Red Rock/Illustration by Skipsteknisk)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/credit-image-supplied-by-red-147117.jpg)
Norwegian offshore crane supplier Red Rock has been hired once again by Ulstein Verft to deliver upgraded crane package for a new and updated version of the DP3 cable laying vessel (CLV) Nexans Aurora.The cable-laying vessel will feature a split turntable on deck capable of holding up to 10,000t of cable, an under-deck turntable with a 3,500t cable capacity.It will be one of the world’s most advanced cable layer vessels, measuring 31 meters in width and 149.9 meters in length.
Offshore Wind Vessels Charging Study Gets Underway in Irish Sea
![(Credit: Stillstrom)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/credit-stillstrom-147129.jpg)
Maersk’s offshore vessel-charging venture Stillstrom has launched a collaborative study with EnBW and BP, the developers of the Morgan and Mona offshore wind farms, to assess the viability of integrating offshore charging solutions for service and crew transfer vessels for the two projects.The study will evaluate the operational, technical, and economic viability of integrating offshore charging solutions for Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) and Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) into…
Ulstein Verft Cuts First Steel for New and Improved Nexans Aurora Vessel
![Steel Cutting Ceremony (Credit: Ulstein Verft)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/steel-cutting-ceremony-credit-ulstein-147168.jpg)
Norwegian shipbuilder Ulstein Verft and Nexans Marine Operations have marked the start of construction of a new DP3 cable-laying vessel (CLV) Nexans Aurora in a steel cutting ceremony held on January 19, 2024.Four months after signing the shipbuilding contract, Nexans Marine Operations and Ulstein Verft officially started he construction of Nexans’ next cable laying vessel.Attending the steel cutting ceremony at the Crist hull yard were representatives from Nexans, Ulstein Verft…
Rovco Grows Offshore Wind Survey Fleet
![DP2 vessel Glomar Worker (Credit: Rovco)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/dp2-vessel-glomar-worker-credit-147172.jpg)
Rovco, a UK-based subsea robotics and survey firm, has added a second hull mounted survey vessel to its fleet with the long-term charter of the DP2 vessel Glomar Worker. The four-year charter with Glomar comes in response to client demand for innovative geophysical and geotechnical survey solutions, according to the company.Rovco has started the conversion of the sister vessel to the already contracted Glomar Supporter, already under long-term charter.After completion of these role specific upgrades…
New Jersey Approves Two Giant Offshore Wind Power Projects
![© Global Image Archive / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/global-image-archive-adobe-stock-147194.jpeg)
New Jersey's utility regulator on Wednesday approved two offshore wind power projects with a combined capacity of 3,742-megawatts (MW) whose backers include Invenergy and TotalEnergies.The offshore wind industry is expected to play a major role in helping several states and U.S. President Joe Biden meet goals to decarbonize the power grid and combat climate change.But progress was slow last year after offshore developers canceled contracts to sell power in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey…