Arne Blystad-owned Offshore Heavy Transport (OHT) has clinched another offshore wind farm contract off the UK.
The company said it has sealed a contract to transport and install foundations for wind turbines at Equinor and SSE Renewables' Dogger Bank B site.
This follows up July's deal for Dogger Bank A.
The new project will be a continuation for OHT’s 48,000-dwt specialist newbuilding vessel Alfa Lift after it finishes at Dogger Bank A.
The ship, due from China Merchants Heavy Industry in China next year, will work on each of two 1.2 GW phases of the wind farm between 2022 and 2024.
Dogger Bank's first power is expected in 2023.
Closing expected this year
The contract award for both the A and B farms is subject to a financial closing expected later this year, OHT said.
The Norwegian company explained last month that moves to develop new installation ships amid a dearth of suitable tonnage are now paying off.
The first contract covers 190 foundations. OHT did not reveal the scope of the second deal. Contract values have remained confidential.
Not content with foundation work, OHT has also been looking at the turbine installation market.
"Having already built the organisation and structure around the Alfa Lift, we saw that the next step up would be easier than the previous one," said chief executive Torgeir Ramstad on a webinar last month.
Buttons being pushed
"We decided to push the button and order two turbine installation vessels of the latest design to be capable of handling the next generation turbines."
CMHI will also build the new duo, with options for two more, but no prices have been revealed.
The vessels will feature energy and heat recovery, battery hybrid solutions and a sophisticated electrical and control system, reducing CO2 emissions by 20% compared to similar units.
"The commercial and delivery terms are very attractive in today’s market," OHT said.
The first unit will be delivered in early 2023, while the delivery structure for the second unit is flexible.
Executive added
OHT has also announced a new executive board member, Rune Magnus Lundetrae, to support its push into turbine installation, which is being overseen by its Vind Offshore Installation subsidiary.
Lundetrae founded Vind and is a former deputy chief executive and chief financial officer of Tor Olav Troim-backed rig owner Borr Drilling.
He was with Borr from 2016 until the end of 2019.
Before this Lundetrae was managing director and head of oil services of DNB Markets, the investment banking subsidiary of Norwegian lender DNB.
He has also clocked up time with John Fredriksen's Seadrill.
