DEME Offshore has started building its first service operation vessel, which will be chartered by Siemens Gamesa for work at three Belgian offshore wind farms.
A keel laying ceremony took place on 13 December at the CEMRE shipyard in Turkey for the vessel designed by DEME, Vuyk Engineering and Marin.
Delivery is due in 2021 and the SOV will serve the Rentel, Mermaid and Seastar projects off Belgium for Siemens Gamesa.
The 60-metre SOV will feature a small waterplane area twin hull or SWATH design that can reduce wave impact on movements when approaching the wind turbines.
The vessel, which will be equipped with a motion compensated gangway and daughter craft, will enable crew transfers in wave heights of up to 2.5 metres.
Some 24 technicians will be able to live aboard.
DEME claims the DP2 technology and the design can reduce fuel consumption by up to 50% compared to a monohull SOV.
“We believe the twin-hulled design, a motion compensated gangway and dynamic positioning is a winning combination and will further reduce the costs of wind farm maintenance, especially compared to large monohulls reaching similar workability,” said Michael Glavind, DEME Offshore director.
“With this first SOV joining our fleet, we further strengthen our capabilities to offer the full offshore wind package, from installation to maintenance.”
Rene Wigmans, Siemens Gamesa head of maritime and aviation solutions, added: “We keep innovating in offshore service logistics, this SOV is the next proof point of that: we are and keep being front movers.”