Offshore Wind Services News

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), Crowley Wind Services and the City of Salem announced the transfer of ownership and an agreement for site improvements and ongoing operations for the Salem Offshore Wind Terminal.The agreement will kickstart the transformation of the site into the second port built specifically to support the construction of offshore wind farms in Massachusetts. The Salem Offshore Wind Terminal will also support the construction and installation…

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…

NOV has signed a new contract with China's CIMC Raffles to supply another GustoMSC™ NG-20000X self-propelled wind turbine installation jack-up vessel design for Havfram, an offshore wind services company based in Norway, which recently ordered its second wind turbine installation vessel from CIMC.According to NOV, the NG-20000X-HF vessels are among the largest wind installation jack-ups in the industry. They feature a 3,250-ton heavy lift crane and can install foundations up to 3,000 tons and wind turbines with tip heights over 300 m in water depths up to 70 m.

Crowley named Mark Coplen as vice president of project management for Crowley Wind Services, where he will be a key leader in advancing the company’s growth and market leadership in the offshore wind industry. In his role, Coplen will expand Crowley Wind Services’ project management capabilities to support customers in its offering of engineering, procurement and construction management for the offshore wind market. Coplen joins Crowley with extensive expertise in the sustainable energy sector leading offshore wind services…

NOV has signed contracts with CIMC Raffles to supply a GustoMSC NG-20000X self-propelled wind turbine installation jack-up vessel design for Havfram, an offshore wind services company based in Norway. The NG-20000X-HF vessel will be among the largest wind installation jack-ups in the industry. It features a 3,250-ton heavy lift crane and can install foundations up to 3,000 tons and wind turbines with tip heights over 300 m in water depths up to 70 m.

Norway-based offshore energy industry services firm Cecon Contracting AS said Thursday that it had, with its partners, recently entered into an agreement for the construction of a methanol- and battery-powered cable installation vessel. The vessel, which will be delivered from Sefine Shipyard in Turkey in the first quarter of 2025, is designed by NSK Ship Design together with Cecon’s engineering team, Cecon said. No details were shared on the order value."One of the main design…

Norwegian offshore wind services firm Edda Wind has taken delivery of its first CSOV, the Edda Breeze. The vessel was built by Astilleros Gondán shipyard in Spain.The hydrogen-ready vessel is the first to be delivered as part of a nine-vessel newbuilding program. The new Commissioning Operation Vessel (CSOV) will in August go on a ten-year contract with Ocean Breeze at the Bard Offshore 1 wind farm in Germany. “The delivery of Edda Breeze marks the start of deliveries for our newbuilding program of nine vessels.

Norwind Offshore, a recently established offshore wind services firm in Norway, has awarded VARD contracts for the design and construction of two additional Commissioning Service Operations Vessels (CSOVs).Norway's Farstad, Volstad, and Kleven in October 2021 teamed up and formed Norwind Offshore, a company focused purely on offshore wind. Announcing the company launch, they also announced orders with Vard for the delivery of three vessels by 2024, two newbuild CSOV, and one conversion of a platform supplier into a Service Operation Vessel (SOV).

There’s often an upside to being among first-movers in an emerging industry, but many are often stifled by the risk inherent to new ventures. For Crowley, which today is leading the charge on a number of maritime fronts such as sustainability and decarbonization, the jump into U.S. offshore wind is being made with diligent planning, a team of experts, solid partners and 130 years of maritime and supply chain logistics experience in hand, each of which will help to mitigate the risk that comes with growing a new industry.Also key…

Norwegian offshore support vessel owner Solstad Offshore ASA has found work for three construction support vessels, apparently all in the renewables space.Normand Australis has secured a 150-day contract for “Walk to Work” services on an offshore wind project in Asia, starting in March 2022.Normand Cutter has won a 110-day charter for a cable project in Northern Europe with the start-up this month.Also, Normand Fortress has won a 180-day firm contract for “Walk to Work” services on an offshore wind project in Northern Europe. The contract will start in April 2023.

Norwegian offshore wind services company Edda Wind has ordered three more Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOV) in addition to the six vessels the company has under construction. The vessels are designed for service operations during the commissioning and operation of offshore wind farms. The three vessels will be prepared for the installation of zero-emission technology in the same way as the first six vessels, based on funding from Enova, according to Edda Wind."Including the three latest newbuildings…

Crowley has appointed Coulston Van Gundy as vice president of construction and engineering. He will lead the company’s vessel design and engineering, construction management and project engineering with an expanded emphasis on growth and innovation.With more than 15 years of experience, Van Gundy has played an integral role in advancing Crowley’s growing engineering and design services in maritime and offshore wind services to elevate alternative energy as a transportation solution.He has been in both vessel- and shore-based operational roles in engineering and led maritime development…

Norwegian offshore wind services company Edda Wind said it has entered into a long-term contract with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy for one of its newbuild service operation vessels (SOV).The contract will commence mid-2023, and Edda Wind said it will be able to operate the vessel for the early part of 2023 in what it expects will be a "buoyant short-term market" before entering into the long-term charter.“This is another important milestone for Edda Wind and strong evidence that the company delivers on our ambitions.

As the maritime industry collectively struggles to chart the course toward decarbonization, Crowley today committed to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across all scopes by 2050, pursuing a path aligned with the latest climate science to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.What this means is an overall reduction of 4.2 million metric tons of greenhouse gases per year for the maritime and logistics giant.“Crowley is on a mission to become the most sustainable and innovative maritime and logistics company in the Americas,” said Tom Crowley, chairman and CEO.

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore is continuing with divestments of non-core vessels and has now sold the Rem Provider platform supply vessel.The vessel, built in 2007, was sold by Solstad Offshore's subsidiary Solstad Rederi AS and the vessel was delivered to the new owner took on Friday. "The sale of the vessel will result in an immaterial accounting effect for Q4 2021," Solstad Offshore said, without sharing further details on the buyer or on the sale value. VesselsValue values the vessel at $3,25 million, with demolition value at around $1,13 million.

Offshore wind vessel company Edda Wind, owned by Wilhelmsen and Østensjø, on Monday announced plan to launch an offering of shares in the company and to apply for a listing on the Oslo Stock Exchange (the “IPO”).Based in Haugesund, Norway, Edda Wind develops, builds, owns, and operates purpose-built Service Operation Vessels (“SOV”) and Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (“CSOV”) for offshore wind farms.The company owns and operates two purpose-built offshore wind SOVs and…

Offshore wind services company Eneti announced on Thursday it has entered into an agreement to acquire rival Seajacks, creating one of the world's largest, most capable fleets of wind turbine installation vessels (WTIV).Eneti said its deal with sellers Marubeni Corporation, INCJ, Ltd. and Mitsui O.S.K., Lines Ltd. will see it acquire 100% of Atlantis Investorco Limited, the parent of Seajacks International Limited, for consideration of approximately 8.13 million shares, $299 million of assumed net debt, $74 million of newly-issued redeemable notes, and $12 million of cash.

Scorpio Bulkers has reached a deal to sell another Ultramax bulk carrier, making good on the company's plan to exit dry bulk shipping for a new focus in the offshore wind market.The shipowner said Thursday it has sold the 2016-built SBI Phoebe to an unnamed third-party buyer for approximately $17.65 million. The Liberian-flagged vessel is expected to be delivered to its new owner in the first quarter of 2021.The transaction is the latest in a string of bulk carrier sales since Scorpio announced in August that it would pivot away from dry bulk shipping toward a new role in the offshore wind services industry.Scorpio has recently sold eight bulk carriers and has contracted to sell 17 more, all of which are expected to close in the first half of 2021.

Scorpio Bulkers said on Thursday it has sold another Ultramax bulk carrier, the sixth ship to leave its fleet since the Monoco-based shipowner announced plans to pivot away from dry bulk shipping toward offshore wind services. The sale of the 2016-built SBI Hera to an unnamed unaffiliated third party for $18.5 million follows close on the heels of Wednesday's sale of the 2017-built Ultramaxes SBI Phoenix and SBI Samson for $34 million. Since September 28, Scorpio has also sold three Kamsarmax vessels, including the 2015-built SBI Conga for $18.4 million and 2016-built SBI Sousta and SBI Rock for $18.5 million and $18 million respectively.Following delivery of the six ships to their new owners in the fourth quarter…

Scorpio Bulkers, Inc. announced Wednesday that it has entered into agreements with an unaffiliated third party to sell two 2017-built Ultramax bulk carriers for approximately $34 million as the dry bulk shipping company continues its transition to offshore wind services.The ships, SBI Phoenix and SBI Samson, are expected to be handed over to the unnamed buyer in the fourth quarter, Scorpio said. Both vessels were built at China's Chengxi Shipyard.The bulk carriers are the fourth and fifth Scorpio has sold since its August announcement revealing plans to enter into a shipbuilding contract with South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) to build a wind turbine installation vessel for delivery in 2023, with options to build three further similar vessels.

Scorpio Bulkers announced it has sold another bulk carrier, marking its seventh ship sale since revealing plans to pivot away from dry bulk shipping toward offshore wind services.The Monoco-based shipowner said on Thursday it reached a deal with an unnamed, unaffiliated third party to sell the 2016-built Ultramax SBI Zeus for approximately $18.5 million.Since September 28, Scorpio Bulkers has also sold SBI Hera, SBI Phoenix, SBI Samson, SBI Conga, SBI Sousta and SBI Rock. Upon delivery of the four Ultramax and three Kamsarmax bulkers to their respective owners in the fourth quarter of 2020, Scorpio Bulkers will have an operating fleet of 47 vessels consisting of 42 wholly-owned or finance leased drybulk vessels (including 13 Kamsarmax vessels and 29 Ultramax vessels)…

The U.S. is going to need a fleet of Jones Act-compliant vessels to support its budding offshore wind industry. The good news is that several of these vessels are currently operating or on order. Even better, there are plenty more in the pipeline.In 2016, Rhode Island-based Atlantic Wind Transfers (AWT) put into service the U.S.’ first-ever vessel purpose-built for offshore wind services. The 21-meter crew transfer vessel (CTV) Atlantic Pioneer was constructed by Blount Boats to serve America’s first commercial offshore wind project…

“30 by 30” is the rallying cry for all concerned with the burgeoning U.S. offshore wind business. In Spring 2021, the Secretaries of Energy, Interior and Commerce resolved to deploy 30 gigawatts (GW) of electricity generated from offshore turbines by 2030. Consultants McKinsey, in a recent article frame the value proposition for this clean fuel source, writing: “During the industry’s 30-year evolution, costs have fallen so sharply that offshore wind now compares favorably with competing energy sources.” For vessel owners, renewable energy brings opportunity.The thrust of near-term U.S.