Norwegian shipyard Ulstein has kicked off sea trials for its first offshore wind operation vessel.
The vessel (pictured) is the first of two SOVs constructed for ship owner Bernhard Schulte Offshore and chartered to Siemens Wind Power Service.
It is slated to be delivered later this month and will be deployed at the 600MW Gemini offshore wind farm off the Netherlands.
The second SOV will be delivered in 2017 and will tackle long-term duty at Vattenfall’s 576MW Sandbank/Dan Tysk projects in the North Sea.
The SOVs are designed to offer increased accessibility with less time lost waiting for suitable weather conditions.
They also feature advanced active gangway systems for safe access to turbines in varying weather and wave conditions.
The vessels have accommodation for 60 staff in single cabins, of which 40 cabins are dedicated to technicians.
The shipbuilding contract on the two SOVs was signed last year.
Image: Ulstein
