Grampian Tweed completes Dogger Bank SOV fleet
North Star’s Grampian Tweed Masters Michael Dodd and Juan A. Escribano flank North Star CEO Gitte Gard Talmo, ABP’s CCO and regional director Julian Walker, and Kamala Hajiyeva, VP for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm
(Source: North Star)
Delivery and commissioning of the service operation vessel (SOV), Grampian Tweed, completes North Star’s fleet of support ships serving the Dogger Bank Wind Farm which, when completed, will be the world’s largest offshore wind facility. The naming ceremony was held at Associated British Ports’ new Lowestoft Energy Facility.
The vessel is the fourth SOV to be deployed on the wind farm, a partnership between Norwegian state energy firm, Equinor, Scotland-based SSE Renewables, and Vårgrønn, a joint venture between Italy’s Plenitude and Norwegian investor, HitecVision. Delivery of the vessel is the latest step in North Star’s investment in assets for Dogger Bank: it has spent GBP 270 million and deployed 160 seafarers on service vessels, and plans to recruit a further 160 seagoing personnel as it expands its SOV fleet over the next three years.
Gitte Gard Talmo, North Star CEO, commented: “The naming of the Grampian Tweed is a proud moment for all of us across the business. Our in-house teams have worked tirelessly to ensure that this SOV, alongside its sister vessels, meets the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and environmental responsibility. The early handover of all these ships not only reinforces our partnership with Equinor and SSE Renewables but also strengthening our role in the transition to a greener, more sustainable energy future.”
Vice president and head of Dogger Bank Wind Farm development, Kamala Hajiyeva, said: “With the arrival of the Grampian Tweed SOV, we celebrate the last of four vessels delivered to the project. The Grampian Tweed also provides a best-in-class working and living environment for our offshore wind technicians and team members, ensuring they can carry out essential maintenance safely and comfortably. The vessel’s advanced features will also provide essential services to the operations and maintenance of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, which will become the world’s largest offshore wind farm."
The 3.6-GW wind farm will generate sufficient energy to power about six million homes.
