Norway-based Norwind Offshore has taken delivery of the first of four Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) built by Vard.
The delivery ceremony took place in Ålesund, on the west coast of Norway. The naming ceremony was attended by representatives of Norwind Offshore, as well as from Vard, various suppliers, and business partners.
“The Norwind Gale is the first newbuild, but the second vessel in our five-vessel fleet programme,” said Svein Leon , Norwind Offshore’s CEO.
The Norwind Gale is the first of two CSOVs that Vard is building for Norwind Offshore. The vessel is purpose-built and equipped to act as a versatile platform for support services during the construction, operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms.
The vessel is of the VARD 4 19 design, developed by Vard Design in Ålesund, with a focus on onboard logistics, safety, comfort, and superior functionality, said the ship owner.
The Norwind Gale ‘s hull was built at Vard Braila in Romania , and the vessel was equipped and completed at Vard Brattvåg.
The Norwind Gale has already secured a contract for the next twelve months and will go straight from the naming ceremony into operation for a Danish energy company.
The company’s first service operations vessel (SOV), called Norwind Breeze , is deployed on the Hornsea Two offshore wind farm under a contract with Ørsted.
Norwind Offshore said that its fleet is set to grow further, with plans to have five vessels by 2025. The first steel for its second CSOV was cut in April this year.