Eastern Shipbuilding Group has been contracted by Hornbeck Offshore Services to convert a 280-foot offshore supply vessel (OSV) to a service operation vessel (SOV) to meet the growing demand of the US offshore wind market.
The vessel, which will also serve the demands of the petro-energy flotel market, was constructed by Eastern Shipbuilding Group in 2014 and will be converted at the company’s 300-acre Allanton Shipyard.
Designed in collaboration with VARD, the HOSSOV™300E will accommodate up to 90 or more persons in flotel or offshore wind service mode, with walk-to-work transfer capabilities in up to 2.5-metre sea states.
The SOV will be equipped with an Uptime 30-metre motion-compensated gangway, a 10-tonne 3D-compensated crane, a helideck, an enclosed warehouse, and stepless boat loading.
The vessel’s existing diesel-electric power plant will be enhanced by a 1,500 kWh battery hybrid power system , enabling reduced emission during offshore operations and in harbor transit, said Eastern Shipbuilding Group.
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The HOSSOV TM 300E is a US-flag, Jones Act-compliant vessel capable of supporting both construction and operations and maintenance (O&M) activities.
The vessel is scheduled for delivery in the spring of 2025 .
“This SOV conversion is a transformational project that will serve the emerging U.S. offshore wind market. We are proud to be the first shipbuilding company to blaze this trail with a vessel we crafted and with our great partners at Hornbeck Offshore Services”, said Joey D’Isernia , CEO of Eastern Shipbuilding Group.
At the beginning of last year, Hornbeck Offshore announced its plans to offer vessels from its fleet for deployment on offshore wind projects after acquiring three OSVs from the US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD).