MHI Vestas has signed a 10-year deal with offshore operator Esvagt for a purpose built service vessel to support technicians on offshore wind projects up to 50km off the Belgium coast.
The vessel will be delivered and start work in the second half of 2017.
It will be 58.5 metres in length, has a beam of 16.6m and can support 22 technicians in single cabins. The vessel is prepared with dynamic positioning technology and two safe transfer boats to transfer technicians, tools and spare turbine parts.
MHI Vestas has been using a refitted Esvagt vessel to provide maintenance for the 165MW Belwind 1 project.
However, with the upcoming installation of the 165MW Nobelwind project in 2016 using V112 3.3MW units a new vessel was required for “greater storage space”, as well as more cabins to accommodate increased numbers of technicians.
MHI Vestas senior director Asger Pedersen said: “Over the last five years we have been extremely satisfied with the performance of the vessel supplied by Esvagt and it was a natural choice to continue our partnership.
“The new purpose built vessel has been designed to provide flexibility for the teams who will be providing operational support for different technology types.”
Image: Belwind 1 offshore wind farm (Van Oord)
