Norwegian owner Rem Offshore is stepping up its push into wind farm work with an order for up to four construction service operation vessels (CSOVs).
The company has contracted Fincantieri-owned shipbuilder Vard to build two firm CSOVs at a combined priced of €100m ($118m), with options for two more.
The private shipowner, controlled by Age and Fredrik Remoy, said the new ships are "tailor-made" for global operations.
The newbuildings are a Vard 4 19 design, developed by Vard Design in Alesund.
The first ship is due from Norway in the first half of 2023, after the hull is built at Vard Braila in Romania.
The second vessel will be built and delivered by Vard Vung Tau in Vietnam in 2024.
Focus switching
"Rem Offshore has during the last few years increasingly focused attention on building a sustainable platform for growth in offshore wind," said Rem Offshore chairman Age Remoy.
"Our shareholders are driving this development together with our Rem colleagues onshore and offshore. We are proud to continue our newbuild programme in Norway and support the local maritime industry."
Vard chief executive Alberto Maestrini added that the contracts confirm Vard's leadership in the CSOV market, "both in terms of innovative ship design, breakthrough technologies and shipbuilding quality".
The CSOVs are 85 metres long and will come with a height-adjustable motion-compensated gangway, with an elevator system and a crane.
The ships will accommodate 120 workers.
More CSOVs in the offing
Rem Offshore is a new company with old roots dating back to 1978 with fishery activities in Norway.
The owner has an operational fleet of 11 modern ships, mainly platform supply vessels.
Three more CSOVs are under construction, two of them in Norway, the company has revealed, without giving details.
Rem has been contacted for further details about these.
In January, the company clinched two new charters for offshore wind work.
The 4,800-dwt platform supply vessel Rem Trader (built 2012) will operate on the Saint Brieuc wind farm off France this year and in 2022 for Dutch contractor Van Oord.
And the new 4,250-dwt construction service vessel (CSV) Rem Energy was booked on a long-term contract with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.
The ship was ordered in 2020 at Norwegian shipbuilder Green Yard Kleven (GYK) for delivery later this year.
