Keel laying for DEME’s first dedicated SOV

DEME is investing in its first SOV for wind farm maintenance (Source: DEME)
CEMRE shipyard in Turkey has an order from customer DEME for a service operation vessel (SOV) for wind farm maintenance. The keel laying has just taken place.
At 60m length, the SOV will be equipped with a motion compensated gangway and daughter craft to safely transfer technicians to the wind turbines, increasing the workability and logistics capabilities of the vessel. It is also designed according to the latest comfort standards, allowing the vessel to be an offshore base for up to 24 technicians and a nautical crew. Environmental considerations are an important element of the vessel design with, amongst others, a waste heat recovery system and a Clean Design notation.
Developed by DEME and further designed in close cooperation with Vuyk Engineering Rotterdam and Marin, the vessel aims to significantly improve safety, comfort and workability for wind farm technicians even in the roughest sea conditions. The SOV will feature a small waterplane area twin hull (SWATH) design, which ensures low wave impact on movements when approaching the wind turbines, compared to a monohull SOV. For environmental protection, systems will include a waste heat recovery system and a clean design notation.
Due for delivery in 2021, the SOV will be chartered by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy as part of a long-term maintenance contract for the Rentel and Mermaid & Seastar offshore wind farms in Belgium.