Siemens Gamesa Charters Edda Wind Newbuild

Edda Wind has entered into a long-term contract for one of its newbuild vessels with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.

The company has not specified which of its vessels will be chartered to the wind turbine manufacturer, but according to information in Edda Wind’s press release from 27 December, the contract will commence mid-2023 and leave room for the vessel to be operated for the early part of 2023 under a short-term contract.

Edda Wind announced a shipbuilding contract for two Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) and two Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) with Spanish Astilleros shipyard in 2019, and ordered two more CSOVs at the beginning of this year.

The new vessels will start joining Edda Wind’s fleet next year, with the final one scheduled to be delivered in 2024.

Along with the six new dedicated offshore wind vessels under construction, Edda Wind owns and operates two purpose-built offshore wind SOVs.

Of the eight-strong fleet, five vessels have been already contracted to work on offshore wind farms under long-term agreements with Ørsted, Vestas, Ocean Breeze, and Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Following the new contract with Siemens Gamesa, which brings this to six out of eight, Edda Wind said the company would be able to be selective on opportunities for the remaining part of the fleet.

Under its shipbuilding contracts with Astilleros, the company has options to order further vessels for its offshore wind fleet.