North Star has officially named its first commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV), the Grampian Kestrel, at a ceremony in Norway.
The vessel was named today at Vard’s shipyard in Tomrefjord, Vard Langsten.
North Star said the milestone event reflects the organisation’s ongoing commitment to the delivery of high-quality offshore support vessels for the renewables sector.
The Grampian Kestrel is the first of two CSOVs to be delivered this year, as part of the firm’s drive to support its growing portfolio of offshore wind clients.
The new vessel, of Vard 4 22 design, will go on service with EnBW and precede the decade-long minimum charter contract the firm signed in 2024 to provide a SOV (of VARD 407 design) for the German energy utility company’s He Dreiht wind farm in the North Sea.
A high-specification vessel, the Grampian Kestrel has the ability to support all aspects of the wind farm’s life cycle, offering essential accommodation and logistics to support construction and commissioning works.
Following this, it will lead EnBW’s operations and maintenance activities until the newbuild SOV is delivered in the third quarter of 2026.
The Vard 4 22 design has been developed in close collaboration with Vard Design in Ålesund, Norway, with new methanol-ready hybrid-propulsion solutions and an increased number of single cabins, providing hotel-quality accommodation for the technicians working in field.
It also includes a high-performance daughter craft with space for a second to suit the clients’ operational needs.
North Star chief executive Gitte Gard Talmo (pictured speaking at the ceremony) said: “The Grampian Kestrel marks yet another milestone in our strategy towards making North Star a leading SOV provider in Europe.
“The vessel is built to service all aspects of an offshore wind farm’s life cycle and has a competent North Star crew to ensure we deliver our services to the highest standard.
“We are proud to christen this future-ready vessel, which sets a new industry benchmark by becoming the world’s first to achieve Lloyd’s Register’s Cyber Resilience classification.
“This certification underscores our commitment to being a safe and reliable partner – for our employees, our clients, and the broader offshore wind industry.”
As part of its digital capabilities, North Star has made a substantial investment in the advanced automation and innovative solutions utilised across its renewables fleet, essential for monitoring performance and ensuring safe vessel operations.
Gard Talmo added: “This vessel and her world-first accreditation were achieved in co-operation with Vard ship design.
“At North Star we know that industry collaboration is the key to success, and we truly look forward to delivering our services to our client, EnBW.”
Over the past three years, North Star has invested £270m in its commitment to build 40 offshore wind vessels by 2040.
North Star’s offshore wind fleet now comprises eight vessels, including both delivered and in-build assets.
The Grampian Kestrel’s naming ceremony was attended by representatives from North Star, Vard, EnBW and other key stakeholders.
Vard chief executive Cathrine Marti said: “On behalf of everyone at Vard, I would like to congratulate North Star on their new cutting-edge vessel.
“Grampian Kestrel is a purpose-built CSOV, designed by North Star to meet North Star’s specific strategy and the demands of the offshore wind market.
“She is built for efficiency, comfort, and flexibility – and she is future-ready from day one.
“With key contributions from Vard Electro and Vard Interiors, this vessel reflects the strength of our integrated approach and our long-standing partnership with North Star.
“Congratulations once again. We wish Grampian Kestrel and her crew fair winds and following seas.”