North Star has secured its first contract for a commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV), a second award with EnBW, further establishing the company’s growing presence in the European offshore wind sector.
This award for the newbuild VARD 4 22 design Grampian Kestrel CSOV (pictured), will precede the decade-long minimum charter contract the firm signed in February to provide a SOV (VARD 407) for the German energy utility firm’s 960MW He Dreiht project in the North Sea.
The wind farm is currently one of Europe’s largest energy transition projects and will be able to supply 1.1 million households with renewable energy.
From the end of next year, 64 turbines with an installed output of 15MW each around 90km north-west of the island of Borkum and 110km west of Heligoland will be connected to the grid.
Tailored for the commissioning phase, the Grampian Kestrel will provide accommodation and logistics to support the construction and commissioning works in 2025.
Following this period, it will lead EnBW’s operations and maintenance activities until the newbuild SOV is delivered in the third quarter of 2026.
North Star chief executive Matthew Gordon said: “Securing this commissioning vessel contract with EnBW highlights our strategic move to broaden our hybrid SOV services aligned to the European renewables market.
“It also demonstrates our ability to meet the unique demands of large-scale projects like EnBW’s He Dreiht wind farm.
“The CSOV, part of North Star’s growing fleet as we aim to add 40 SOVs by 2040, will be equipped with market leading accessibility to enable commissioning and maintenance operations, and feature the latest hull design optimised for low fuel consumption and resistance, as well as high operability and comfort.
“This new contract with EnBW sets the stage for a long-term partnership and positions North Star as a key player in the transition to renewable energy.”
The Grampian Kestrel is the first of two CSOVs under construction for North Star.
The VARD 4 22 design has been developed especially for the company, with new methanol ready hybrid-propulsion solutions and an increased number of single cabins, providing hotel quality accommodation for the technicians working in field.
“The contract gives us the flexibility we need to respond quickly and efficiently to the upcoming challenges during the construction and commissioning of He Dreiht,” said EnBW´s construction manager Stefan Umland.
“The Grampian Kestrel provides us with state-of-the-art accommodation and transport facilities for the technicians deployed within the windfarm.”
North Star, which has a base in Hamburg as well as UK operations in Aberdeen, Lowestoft and Newcastle, has a 1400 strong workforce, and has added eight SOVs and CSOVs to its fleet since entering the offshore wind market in March 2021.