Zamakona Launches Deutsche Bucht SOV

Spain’s Zamakona Yards has launched a service operation vessel (SOV) being built for Esvagt AS at the company’s Bilbao facilities.

Once delivered, the Esvagt will start a 15-year contract with MHI Vestas Offshore Wind on the Deutsche Bucht wind farm in the German North Sea.

The Esvagt SOV is 58.5 metres long and has a beam of 16.6 metres. The vessel will be equipped with an SMST walk‐to‐work gangway system in a bespoke tower with a crane placed on top of the tower. Together with Safe Transfer Boats STB 7 and STB 12, this will contribute to the safe transfer of turbine technicians, tools and spare parts, Zamakona said.

The vessel is expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2019.

The 269MW Deutsche Bucht offshore wind farm is located some 95 kilometres northwest of the Borkum Island.

It will comprise of 33 MHI Vestas 8.4MW wind turbines installed on 31 monopile foundations and two mono bucket foundations. The wind farm is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year.

NOTE: The original article and the accompanying photo were edited on Tuesday, 23 April, 11:15 AM CET.