The Saverys family’s Windcat has completed its newbuilding splash on dual-fuel hydrogen-powered offshore wind vessels by declaring an option at Damen Shipyards.
The company, now part of Euronav/CMB.Tech, has firmed a deal for a sixth commissioning service operation vessel.
The optional contract was attached to an order for ships four and five in the “Elevation” series of future-proof CSOVs inked last November.
Damen will again build the vessel at Ha Long Shipyard in Vietnam, where construction of the other ships is underway.
The first CSOV will be delivered early next year.
The initial order for three vessels was placed in 2022.
Delivery dates are currently running into 2026, but no time frame was provided for the sixth unit.
No price has been given for the CSOVs.
The vessels are 87 metres long and 20 metres wide and can accommodate up to 120 people.
Compagnie Maritime Belge bought Windcat in 2020 and will operate the CSOVs as part of its Windcat offshore unit.
Hydrogen-powered CTVs
A sister division, Windcat Workboats, operates a fleet of more than 52 offshore crew transfer vessels.
That division placed orders last year for six hydrogen-powered Hydrocat 48 CTVs, five of which are still under construction.
Damen’s sales manager for Benelux, Joost van der Weiden, said: “Working closely with CMB.Tech to develop the hydrogen component of this vessel — turning a new technology into a proven technology — is a groundbreaker for the industry.”
“Together with Damen, we have also spent a lot of time thinking about the on board workflow of the offshore wind farm technicians; how they can move from point A to point B as efficiently as possible, both for operational efficiency and for safety,” added Windcat managing director Willem Van Der Wel.
