Denmark’s Esvagt is starting work on a new offshore wind farm ship design after securing a key new contract.
The shipowner said it has won a deal to provide a service operation vessel (SOV) to Vestas for EcoWende’s Hollandse Kust West plant off the Netherlands.
No shipyard has been mentioned for the order, but the newbuilding will be the sixth purpose-built SOV for Vestas.
Esvagt called this “a testament to the strong partnership between two innovative market leaders, who have been cooperating since 2010”.
The new wind farm will be commissioned in 2026.
The companies have agreed to a 15-year contract with extension options.
This is aligned with Vestas’ service contract for EcoWende to ensure the optimal performance of the turbines.
“Esvagt and Vestas share an extensive history since the earliest days of offshore wind, and Vestas has been one of our key partners in developing and refining our SOV concept,” said Esvagt chief strategy and commercial officer Soren Karas.
“This new contract not only underlines our shared ambition of continually pushing the envelope on efficient wind farm operations, it also cements Esvagt’s position as the largest owner of build-to-contract SOVs,” he added.
The battery-hybrid SOV is a new compact design, with the lowest possible fuel consumption, and is prepared for full electrification, the owner said.
Hollandse Kust West will have a renewable electricity output of 760 MW, equating to about 3% of current Dutch electricity demand.
In July last year, Esvagt clinched a deal with energy group Orsted to build the second in a groundbreaking series of wind farm ships.
Methanol vessels coming
In 2022, the pair ordered the world’s first methanol-powered SOV at Cemre Shipyard in Turkey.
It will begin operations in 2024 off the UK east coast.
The second ship is due in 2026, backed by a 10-year contract for the same site.
No price has been revealed for either of the units.
The dual-fuel engines will be capable of using green methanol produced from renewable energy and biogenic carbon.
Esvagt also has an 88-loa wind turbine installation vessel on order at Fincantieri in a joint venture with Crowley in the US.
