BSM Takes Management of Two SOVs

BSM is to take on the ship management of two new ULSTEIN SX175 Service Operation Vessels (SOVs), ordered as part of a WINDEA joint venture involving its parent company Bernhard Schulte.

Both vessels are to be built at the Ulstein Verft shipyard in Norway and will be operated by Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement on a long-term charter contract for SIEMENS following their delivery in 2016 and 2017.

Purpose-built to meet the needs of the offshore wind industry, the vessels will be 88m long by 18m wide with a top speed of 13.5 knots and capable of accommodating up to 109 people.

WINDEA Offshore is a joint venture between Bernhard Schulte, EMS Maritime Offshore and SSC Wind. WINDEA provides multiple solutions including consulting for the construction and maintenance of offshore wind farms.

Officials from Bernhard Schulte, its offshore wind affiliate, WINDEA, and Siemens recently met last week in Brande, Denmark to commemorate the project start and sign the chartering agreement.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mark Albenze, CEO of Siemens Wind Power and Renewables Services Business Unit, said: “We are proud to be the first in the industry to introduce these new specially designed SOVs. By improving efficiencies in our service operations, we can help our customers realise optimal performance from their turbines, thereby contributing to the competitiveness of offshore wind energy in the future. Our charter agreement with Bernhard Schulte offers us the opportunity to work with an experienced shipowning company and we look forward to the start of offshore operations with these new vessels in 2016.”