Schoeller Holdings and Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt (DOS) are behind an order for four special-purpose vessels for the offshore energy market.
Cyprus-based Schoeller Holdings has ordered the four construction commissioning service operation vessels (C-CSOVs) from CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding.
The ships are slated for deliveries beginning in early 2027.
Schoeller has formed a joint venture with Hamburg-based DOS that will market the special-purpose vessels as their commercial manager.
The vessels will be technically managed by Columbia Shipmanagement, which is also part of the Schoeller group.
The C-CSOV vessels are being marketed as a new design for the offshore market.
They will have a broader range of applications than most CSOV designs that are tailored to the offshore wind turbine market, the company said.
DOS managing partner Philipp Maracke outlined plans to charter the vessels to a broad range of clients.
“The energy market is desperate for new players and more ships. We will charter out the C-CSOVs worldwide, both on the spot market and for long-term contracts of up to 15 years,” he said.
Maracke founded the company with managing partner Johannes Wolters, having both previously worked for many years in management positions for German shipyards.
New design
The partners jointly designed the vessel with Norway’s Salt Ship Design to handle a broader range of tasks.
Wolters said: “We have applied our experience in building yachts and naval vessels to advance the most common designs.
“By combining a modified layout with modularity, we have created a vessel that is attractive for a wide range of customers without having to make compromises in the offshore wind market.”
The 96.25 metre long and 20 metre wide C-CSOVs can accommodate on board up to 100 technicians.
They will perform conventional offshore wind tasks and cable repairs and light construction work both above and below water.
The special-purpose vessels have been designed with retrofitting to operate on methanol as an alternative fuel.
The energy system was designed to enable the ship to be operated entirely on electricity.
The offshore market is experiencing high demand for support ships, the partners said.
They believe the industry needs a large number of ships to support offshore construction projects that have already been approved.
Attractive offshore markets are currently springing up in Japan, Taiwan and other countries, they added.
