VARD, one of the world’s major designers and shipbuilders of specialized vessels, has announced that it has secured a new contract for the design and construction of one Service Operation Vessels (SOV) for North Star Group in the UK. The vessel of VARD 4 12 design will be the fourth SOV to be delivered from VARD to North Star for operation on the Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the North Sea.

North Star has secured a long-term charter contract to deliver an additional ship boasting its new hybrid-powered renewables fleet to support the third phase of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm. The vessel will be built and delivered by VARD, scheduled for delivery to North Star in Q4 2024.

Dogger Bank is currently under construction by joint-venture partners SSE Renewables, Equinor and Eni and when completed will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm.

North Star CEO Matthew Gordon says: “Securing the final SOV contract required for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm development for at least the next decade is fantastic news. Together with VARD, we have designed a sustainable renewables fleet that elevates SOVs into a new era of comfort, safety, reliability, and workability. The technology onboard includes low fuel consumption, digital decision support technology, advanced propulsion systems, hybrid power management and a waste heat recovery system. Coupled with the well-planned recreation and accommodation areas, they will provide a superior home-from-home living space for the offshore wind technicians working offshore. We look forward to a successful build with VARD and delivering these next generation vessels on schedule.”

VARD’s CEO Alberto Maestrini says: “We would like to congratulate North Star for the fourth contract of the complete vessel package for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, and at the same time thank North Star for choosing VARD as partner to design and build their hybrid-powered renewables fleet. We are honored of having all four SOVs in our portfolio, and it confirms that our investments in the renewable energy field are right both for our customers and for VARD. Together we continue our contribution to a sustainable future, actively working to get to zero emission.”

Runar Vågnes, SVP Sales & Marketing in VARD, has been responsible for the commercial process for the North Star projects in VARD. He says: “The close and resourceful cooperation with the North Star team, involving the end users, shipowner, designer, suppliers, and the shipyard alike, has led to innovative SOV designs for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm we can all be proud of. This, and the trust and confidence developed during the project, has led to a welcome new building contract of a fourth vessel for the field.”

Designed by Vard Design in Norway

The VARD 4 12 design is developed by Vard Design in Ålesund. The SOV for North Star has been developed to handle corrective maintenance services on the Dogger Bank C wind arrays, in the harsh North Sea environment more than 130 kilometres off the north-east coast of England. The vessel is tailored to meet the North Star’s expectations for optimal standards of workability, comfort, safety, and sustainability.

In the development phase, it has been a high focus on the vessel’s environmental footprint and operability, to include a hybrid battery solution and prepare for carbon-neutral operations. Another key design element has been to ensure efficient logistics. The vessel will have a height-adjustable, motion-compensated gangway with elevator system, a height-adjustable boat transfer system, as well as a 3D-compensated crane for cargo transfer.

The new SOV will be 78 metres in length with a beam of 19 metres and have an accommodation for 60 persons in single cabins.

SeaQ® Flexible Solutions by Vard Electro

For optimal efficiency, the hybrid vessel will be equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system, highly efficient main propellers, and tunnel thrusters with permanent magnet electric motors in combination with SeaQ solutions supplied by Vard Electro in Norway.

The SOV will feature a fully integrated SeaQ Energy Storage System Solution in combination with SeaQ Integrated Automation System (IAS), SeaQ Power Management system (PMS), SeaQ Energy Management System (EMS), and SeaQ Green Pilot (energy monitoring system) for improved operational performance and reduced environmental footprint. The set-up makes it possible to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, in addition to enhance responsiveness and safety.

To be Built at Vard Vung Tau

The SOV is scheduled for delivery from VARD’s shipyard Vard Vung Tau in Vietnam in 2024. The shipyard has a broad portfolio of vessels for the offshore and renewables market.