Bibby Marine has laid the keel for the world’s first commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) to run on zero emissions.
The 6700GT e-CSOV is a hybrid methanol battery-powered vessel designed to serve the offshore wind industry.
The keel-laying ceremony (pictured) was held at the Armon Shipyard in Vigo, Spain.
During the event, Bibby line group chief executive Jonathan Lewis welded a coin from 1807, the year of Bibby’s founding, on to the keel plates, marking the start of the vessel’s construction.
When commissioned in 2027, Bibby said the vessel will provide significant reductions in emissions and fuel consumption for the offshore wind industry.
It is designed to accommodate up to 120 personnel and will be able to provide zero-emission commissioning and O&M support to offshore wind farms for up to 30 days.
Speaking at the keel-laying event, Lewis said: “This vessel is more than a feat of engineering – it’s a symbol of our values as a business, in action. At Bibby Marine, we believe in doing the right thing, even when it’s difficult.
“We began work on zero-emissions vessels back in 2019, long before it was mainstream. As we lay the keel for our electric-first vessel, we are proud to be proving that clean, sustainable maritime solutions are not only possible, but essential.”
Key partners providing equipment for the project include Kongsberg, Corvus Energy, and Wartsila.