North Star has awarded a new contract to UK shipbuilder Alicat Workboats for the construction of two new offshore wind daughter craft.
The hybrid-propulsion workboats 5 & 6, designed by Chartwell Marine, will be integrated into North Star’s renewables fleet.
Under the agreement, Alicat Workboats will build the two vessels based on the Chartwell Daughter Craft design specification.
The plans will integrate the latest green technologies and futureproof for further technological advancements to come, facilitating the seamless integration of low-emission fuels, Chartwell said.
Chartwell Marine director and naval architect Andy Page said: “We are thrilled to collaborate once again with North Star and Alicat, and excited to be able to apply our expertise on such a monumental offshore wind project – not just in the UK, but globally.
“The next-generation technologies and design philosophy of daughter craft 5 & 6 further solidify our shared vision for a green future in the maritime industry.
“With the workboats playing a pivotal role in the further offshore sites serviced by North Star’s Walk-2-Work fleet, providing a safe means of transfer for technicians, these vessels will prove essential in maintaining the momentum of the project’s progression.”
North Star renewables director Andrew Duncan added: “Through our close collaborations with Chartwell and Alicat, we’ve witnessed their remarkable expertise and craftsmanship first-hand, so they were the natural choice for our next sequence of daughter craft.
“Their impressive track record has instilled in us the utmost confidence that they can reliably deliver on time in the fields of design and construction, helping us continue to provide essential services offshore.”
The latest additions to the fleet bolster the ongoing partnership between North Star and Chartwell, following the procurement of four daughter craft vessels between 2021 and 2024 for four contracted SOVs.
Last week, North Star delivered its inaugural service operations vessel (SOV) designed specifically for offshore wind operations and maintenance (O&M) support on Dogger Bank. The company has now successfully crewed the hybrid-electric Grampian Tyne vessel, 60% of which have moved across from its existing North Sea workforce.