SCHOTTEL has reached an agreement with Virginia-based Lyon Shipyard to support the servicing of vessels in the emerging US offshore wind industry.
SCHOTTEL, headquartered in Germany, is a manufacturing company that produces propulsion and steering systems for ships and offshore applications, while Lyon Shipyard acts as a full-service ship repair facility.
According to SCHOTTEL, operating wind farms in the US will require a large fleet of Jones Act-qualified service operation vessels (SOVs) fitted with thrusters and DP systems.
The company also added that these SOVs have to be regularly inspected and maintained in the dry dock and have their thrusters overhauled.
“Through their new partnership, Lyon Shipyard and SCHOTTEL are well-positioned to face the new challenges,” the company said.
As part of the agreement, Lyon Shipyard invested in a 500-square-metre Z-drive maintenance building, while SCHOTTEL is providing the Norfolk-based facility with technicians and technical support.
“Our partnership started with harbour tugs years ago. We overhauled the drive units here under SCHOTTEL’s supervision. Today, we have a plethora of Z-drives, including spare units and spare parts. We have established capacity here to be able to service SCHOTTEL propulsion systems in all power ranges ,” said Johnny Gaskins , VP of production at Lyon Shipyard.
SCHOTTEL also commented that the global wind industry has a limited number of dedicated Wind Turbine Installation Vessels (WTIVs), adding that two of them are already equipped with the company’s thrusters – DEME’s Innovation and Jan de Nul’s Vole au Vent.
In January this year, Jan de Nul launched the Voltaire, a next-generation offshore jack-up installation vessel for offshore renewables and decommissioning, which also features SCHOTTEL propulsion system.
That same month , Jan de Nul launched another floating installation vessel Les Alizés, featuring SCHOTTEL thrusters. The vessel is slated for delivery in the first half of 2022.
“More wind installation vessels, such as two for Jan de Nul, Voltaire and Les Alizés, are under construction with SCHOTTEL propulsion systems. Following their delivery later this year, they will be among the largest ships of their kind in the world,” said SCHOTTEL.