Groene Wind launched in Turkey

DEME has launched its first service operation vessel (SOV) at the CEMRE shipyard in Yalova, Turkey.

Named Groene Wind (green wind), the small waterplane area twin hull (SWATH) vessel will be deployed for wind farm maintenance activities.

Due for delivery in 2021, the vessel will be directly chartered to Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy for the maintenance of the Rentel and Mermaid and Seastar (known as SeaMade) offshore wind farms in Belgium.

According to DEME, this is the first DP-2, twin-hulled SOV in the world and the first to serve three different wind farm sites.

The company’s in-house newbuild team worked in close collaboration with Vuyk Engineering Rotterdam and research institute MARIN.

The SWATH design is said to ensure low wave impact on movements when approaching wind turbines, compared to a traditional monohull SOV.

DP-2 technology means that the vessel can hold its position in rough seas but at the same time operate with lower fuel consumption when compared to traditional SOVs.

A fuel consumption reduction of up to 50% can be achieved compared to a monohull SOV, the company claimed.

The vessel will also include a waste heat recovery system and a Clean Design notation.

At 60 m (197 ft) long, the SOV will be equipped with a motion compensated gangway and daughter craft to transfer technicians to the wind turbines.

The vessel will also be a homely offshore base for up to 24 technicians and a nautical crew.

Source: Offshore Magazine