UK owner North Star has bagged a bonus wind farm contract after one of its new service operations vessels (SOVs) was delivered early.
The 79-loa Grampian Derwent has been handed over three months ahead of schedule by Vard’s Vung Tao yard in Vietnam to help with construction and commissioning at the Dogger Bank site in the North Sea.
SSE Renewables has awarded the ship a new scope of work as a result.
The first of North Star’s new SOVs — the Grampian Tyne — arrived in the UK last month.
The Grampian Derwent, which can can accommodate 50 technicians, will eventually slot into its long-term charter with the utilities group after the initial three months.
The wind farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor and Vargronn.
North Star has financing of £140m ($171m) in place to build 40 wind farm ships by 2040.
Four hybrid-electric SOVs will be operational at Dogger Bank by 2026, each on 10-year minimum deals.
Michael Gordon, commercial director at North Star, said: “Winning this new scope of work at Dogger Bank — our first in construction and commissioning — is part of our focus to be a true value add service partner.
“We are extremely proud to be recognised as a dependable operator delivering these vessels to the project ahead of schedule during a market which is finding significant supply chain issues cascading throughout the SOV sector.”
