Bernhard Schulte’s service operation vessel (SOV) Windea Jules Verne has started working at the Merkur offshore wind farm in Germany.
At the 396 MW project, Windea Jules Verne will support operations and maintenance of the 66 GE Haliade 150-6 MW turbines, which were commissioned in June last year.
GE Renewable Energy contracted Bernhard Schulte to provide an SOV for Merkur in July 2018, after which the German vessel owner and operator placed an order with Ulstein.
Ulstein Verft began working on the SOV in September 2019 and completed final tests and sea trials at the shipyard in Norway this spring. The vessel was delivered in June.
Windea Jules Verne measures 93.4m in length and 18m in the beam and can accommodate up to 120 people.
It has a large centrally positioned walk-to-work motion compensated gangway and a lift tower for personnel and cargo transfers. Furthermore, a 3D compensated crane capable of 2-tonne cargo lifts is available.