Damen Shiprepair Oranjewerf Waves Goodbye to VOS Start

VOS Start has left Damen Shiprepair Oranjewerf  and is set to commence its first project next month, providing logistics support, accommodation and walk-to-work  (W2W) capability for MHI Vestas at the Walney Extension offshore wind farm.

The 80m VOS Start – Vroon’s first DP2, subsea-support, walk-to-work vessel – arrived at Oranjewerf on 1 June from her build yard in China for the installation of a motion-compensated gangway system by Barge Master and Bosch Rexroth, the extended installation of a Kongsberg reference system (including a ‘windfarm module’), and an active heave-compensated crane from SMST.

In the eight weeks that the vessel was in the yard, it also underwent a wide range of other upgrades and preparations for her first charter. Niron Staal Amsterdam fabricated two boat landing ladders which were then installed by Oranjewerf. Other equipment installed include a Lightweight Taut Wire, Radius and a Hipap position reference system, all manufactured by Kongsberg. The mountings necessary for up to eight temporary living units, supplied by H2M, were also fitted, along with many other modifications.

Damen stated that, due to the W2W element, this has been the most complex upgrade yet for a VOS subsea support vessel at Oranjewerf.

Jeen van der Werf, Commercial Manager at Damen Shiprepair Oranjewerf, said: “Detailed planning prior to the vessel’s arrival ensured that no time was wasted and everyone worked efficiently and effectively. Double shifts were worked when needed and on occasions activity continued around the clock to ensure that progress remained on schedule. Oranjewerf is particularly well-suited for this project, due not just to the capabilities of its workforce, but also to the extensive craneage on its berths and space on the quays for the largest mobile cranes.”

Senior newbuilding superintendent at Vroon Group BV / Vroon Offshore Services, Foppe Molenaar, said: “With the VOS Start a lot of extra work was added during the project,” he continued, “and as this is a new ship type for the Vroon fleet its progress received a good deal of attention from across the Group and from maritime renewable market representatives and potential charterers. So we needed a yard that we could depend on, and in addition to this we had a charter deadline to meet, so speed was essential.”

Under its first charter, VOS Start will support the installation and commissioning of 40 MHI Vestas 8MW turbines at the 659MW Walney Extension wind farm.