Danish shipping company Esvagt is to provide MHI Vestas with a new service operation vessel for work on the 950MW Moray East offshore wind farm off the coast of Scotland.
The 70-metre SOV is scheduled for delivery in February 2021 and will be the fifth Esvagt vessel contracted to MHI Vestas.
It will based on Norwegian company Havyard’s 831L design and will be equipped with Esvagt’s transfer boats STB12 and STB7, as well as a walk-to-work gangway.
The vessel will also have accommodation for up to 60 people and work at Moray East for 15 years.
Moray East will feature 100 MHI Vestas V164-9.5MW turbines.
MHI Vestas marine specialist Keld Kristensen said: “It has been an exciting process to develop the concepts around the vessels, so they can give our technicians the optimal conditions to service the turbines whilst finding a balance to ensure a cost efficient vessel operation.
“With Esvagt we have, over the years, developed a collaborative approach where no one is looking at the colour of the work wear, but everyone is working together to make our operation much more efficient and competitive.”
Esvagt chief commercial officer Soren Karas said: “We are glad that we have created an even closer and more productive partnership with MHI Vestas with a tailor made solution.
“This reinforces our position in the market and shows that MHI Vestas appreciates how to take full advantage of all the possibilities that Esvagt’s unique SOV concept brings.”
MHI Vestas has deployed the Esvagt Mercator for servicing at the Nobelwind and Belwind offshore wind farms off the coast of Belgium.
In August next year, a new Esvagt SOV will start a 15-year contract with the manufacturer at the 269MW Deutsche Bucht project off Germany.
MHI Vestas has also ordered two more Esvagt SOV’s for work on the 860MW Triton Knoll offshore wind farm off the east coast of England and the 731.5MW Borssele 3&4 development in the Netherlands.