Bernhard Schulte Offshore has signed an agreement with Ulstein Verft for the design and construction of two methanol-ready commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs), with options to order four additional vessels.
The CSOVs, measuring 89.6 metres in length with a beam of 19.2 metres, are of the ULSTEIN SX222 design and will utilise the company’s TWIN X-STERN design, featuring two sterns and main propellers located at both fore and aft.
The two vessels, planned to be delivered in 2025, will have hybrid battery propulsion and will be prepared for using methanol fuel.
Furthermore, the new CSOVs will have a large, centrally positioned walk-to-work motion-compensated gangway and elevator tower for personnel and cargo transfers. They will be fitted with a 3D compensated crane capable of lifting 5 tons and will have large storage capacities and stepless approach to the offshore installations, Ulstein says.
The vessels that will be built for Bernhard Schulte Offshore will have single cabins for 110 persons and will be able to accommodate 132 people.
According to Ulstein, the two newbuilds will complement Bernhard Schulte Offshore’s current fleet of three offshore service vessels.
“After the first newbuild contracts in 2015 and again in 2018, and the upgrade of the ‘Windea Leibniz’ which we completed this year, we are very pleased to now sign a shipbuilding contract at Ulstein Verft for vessels no. 4 and 5 for Bernhard Schulte Offshore. There is a great cooperation spirit between the parties, and we are looking forward to working together once more. The vessels are planned for delivery in 2025, and we will do our utmost to live up to the owner’s expectations”, said Kolbjørn Moldskred , sales manager at Ulstein Verft.
“The energy transition is crucial to achieving the climate goals, and the offshore wind industry plays a significant role in this transition. We believe these new CSOVs will serve Bernhard Schulte Offshore well in the coming years, as do the previous three we have designed and delivered to them” , said Ulstein Group CEO Cathrine Kristiseter Marti .