Esvagt’s latest service operation vessel (SOV) is ready to start work for MHI Vestas on the Borssele 3&4 and Northwester 2 offshore wind farms off the Netherlands and Belgium, respectively.
The Danish shipper said the NHST-146, which is the first of three new-builds for the company, has been ready at its base port of Ostend since 8 January.
All three vessels have had the hulls built in the Cemre Shipyard in Turkey, after which Havyard completes the ships in Norway.
The next two SOVs are to be delivered later in 2021.
Esvagt said that completion of NHST-146 was not a typical process.
Project director Gerner Eskelund said: “Firstly, Havyard Shipyard was affected by a financial crisis that stopped work at the shipyard for months.
“Work on several of the more essential parts of the vessel had to wait – for example parts of the electrical equipment, and the work could only be resumed after a renegotiation with banks and with the shipyard.
“Fortunately, construction of the three hulls continued in Turkey at Cemre Shipyard.”
Esvagt said that this lasted until the autumn, when the shipyard in Norway unfortunately was forced to shut down due to Covid-19.
It said that, in total, around 20% of the shipyard’s workers tested positive, and the shipyard had to wait several weeks before reopening, once the health authorities had introduced a series of new working guidelines.
Eskelund said: “We have been good at speeding up the process where possible to make up for some of the lost time.
“Among other things, we have had colleagues dedicated to overseeing all processes at the shipyard.
“This was a big help, but the delivery of the vessel was overall a bit delayed.”
The hurdles have meant that the vessel is now ready to start its charter a couple of months behind schedule.
Esvagt deputy chief executive Kristian Ole Jakobsen said: “We are thankful for having such strong partners in Vestas, Cemre Shipyard, Havyard Design & Solutions and New Havyard Ship Technology, who have all shown understanding, flexibility and a strong will to pull together when needed.
“Likewise that Havyard in a difficult situation has done everything in its power to meet requirements and wishes.
“Finally, we are very satisfied that ESVAGT in this situation has the strength to, on its own, organise and make decisions that are optimal for the customer.”