‘Midi-SOV’ to widen choice in offshore wind

Southampton-based ship design firm, Chartwell Marine, and Vard, a Fincantieri shipbuilding subsidiary, have announced a new ship design targeting the offshore wind market. The 55m-long ‘Midi-SOV’ has been designed to fill a gap between today’s crew transfer vessels (CTV) and larger service operation vessels (SOV).

The design, due to be introduced to both United States and European markets in 2024, has been developed in response to demand for larger crew transfer vessels required for the servicing and operation of bigger turbine installations further from shore. It is Jones Act compliant, Americanised, and ready for production in US shipyards, the companies said.   

The vessel design has also been developed with an eye on substantially higher inflation and interest rates and their impact on development costs in the offshore wind pipeline. Chartwell explained that it had taken into consideration the insights of vessel owners, technical suppliers, and wind farm operators to meet the changing needs of the industry.

Good seakeeping characteristics and comfort on board have been priorities. A low waterplane area broadens above the waterline, minimising and dampening roll motion, Chartwell explained. Walk-to-work capabilities that were previously challenging for smaller SOV hull forms, have been widened.

The design has 36 single cabins for offshore wind personnel and 20 cabins for ship’s crew. Facilities include a gym, auditorium, meeting rooms, and day rooms. Energy efficiency has been a priority. The design can be drawn up on the basis of methanol-diesel dual-fuel engines, electric propulsion, and a supporting energy storage system, the companies said.

During development, Chartwell received support from a number of marine firms including Clarksons, North Star, Seaspeed Marine Consulting and Voith. Vard subsequently conducted due diligence on the design and realised its potential in the market.

Chartwell Marine director, Andy Page, commented: “Never before has there been such a pressing need to develop offshore wind vessels that are reactive to evolving operational and financial conditions. Far from being a disaster, we see the failure of the UK’s Round 5 offshore wind CfD auctions as an opportunity for the maritime industry to respond to the fact that developer costs are skyrocketing.

“The Midi-SOV offers a cost-efficient alternative to full-sized SOVs, contributing to the industry's overall sustainability. We’re putting a strong emphasis on having these vessels manufactured locally, with US-built vessels Americanised for the US market and Europe-built vessels for European operations. Chartwell is leading the charge in CTVs; VARD are a pioneer in the SOV space — so the Midi-SOV is the best of both worlds.”

Vard’s senior vice president, Sales, Runar Vågnes, said: “With the introduction of the Midi-SOV, Chartwell Marine and Vard are leading the way in opening up a new segment in the offshore wind industry enabling sustainable business at sea, bringing forth a vessel that combines innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. Our partnership signifies a commitment to providing operators with state-of-the-art solutions that slot into new and specialised roles that are emerging in markets across the globe.”