A joint venture (JV) between Schoeller Holdings and Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt (DOS) has ordered four commissioning service operation vessels (C-CSOVs) for deployment in the offshore wind and other segments of the offshore energy sector, marking its entry into the market which is, according to Philipp Maracke, Managing Partner of DOS, ‘desperate for new players and more ships’.
As disclosed, Schoeller Holdings placed an order for the construction of four ships at CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, a member of the China State Shipbuilding Group.
Scheduled for delivery in early 2027, the C-CSOVs will be able to accommodate up to 100 technicians and offer maximum operational flexibility, as they will be fit for deployment in the offshore wind sector as well as in other segments of the offshore energy sector.
The 96.25-metre-long and 20-metre-wide ships will be suitable for performing work above and below water for wind farm installation and their operators, turbine manufacturers, grid operators, and companies in the oil and gas sector.
The new C-CSOV design was jointly developed by DOS and the Norwegian company Salt Ship Design.
According to the JV, the new type of ship will have an enlarged and fully modular working deck, providing over 850 square meters of unobstructed multipurpose space. When used in conjunction with a 50-tonne AHC crane featuring integrated 3D motion compensation, the special-purpose vessel will be able to perform conventional offshore wind tasks, cable repairs, IMR, and light construction work both above and below water.
Furthermore, the fully integrated offshore gangway system will provide access to platforms between 12 and 30 meters above the waterline. The ships will also feature a spacious lift to allow technicians and the necessary material to be transported to the offshore facilities quickly and without steps.
The new C-CSOVs will be installed with a 12.4-tonne helicopter deck for the offshore industry’s requirements. The new type of ship has also been designed for the use of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).
Schoeller Holdings highlighted the energy efficiency of the new ships, specifically optimized hydrodynamics in conjunction with an energy-efficient configuration of the propulsion and energy system which is expected to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
The ships will be installed with the 1,000 kWh battery pack and the shore power connection and use heat recovery will lower the energy requirements and the environmental footprint of the ships.
What is more, the special-purpose vessels will be designed for the future retrofitting to operate on methanol as an alternative fuel. In addition, the energy system was designed to enable the ship to be operated entirely on electricity in the future. Noise levels and ship vibrations on board have been dramatically reduced and the vessels have been assigned a class notation of COMF (C2, V2),
DOS will act as the commercial manager of the ships while Columbia Shipmanagement, a part of Schoeller Holdings will provide technical management.
The C-CSOVs will be chartered out worldwide, both on the sport market and for long-term contracts of up to 15 years, said Philipp Maracke , Managing Partner of DOS.
“We have applied our experience in building yachts and naval vessels to advance the most common designs,” explained Johannes Wolters , Managing Partner of DOS. “By combining a modified layout with modularity, we have created a vessel that is attractive for a wide range of customers without having to make compromises in the offshore wind market.”