Vard Receives AiP for North Star’s Two Methanol-Ready CSOVs

December 2, 2024, by Adnan Memija

Norwegian Vard has received Approval in Principle (AiP) for the methanol fuelling system of two Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) currently under construction for North Star.

The AiP is awarded by Lloyd’s Register and applies to two of the vessels designed and under construction for North Star.

The approval has been through two levels of risk analysis and adjustment of the design to enable the future use of methanol as a fuel, said Vard.

The CSOVs have a high degree of preparation for the conversion and can be transitioned to methanol in line with the engine manufacturer’s scheduled release of the conversion kit.

With this, the VARD 4 22 will be one of the first vessels in the offshore wind market able to operate on green fuels, according to the company.

“Our commitment to methanol-ready vessels is essential in future-proofing North Star’s fleet for the low-carbon transition in offshore wind operations,” said James Bradford, North Star’s Chief Technology Officer.

“This AiP from Lloyd’s Register validates the robust design approach we’ve taken alongside VARD and prepares us to adopt green fuel technologies as available, aligning with our sustainability goals and the evolving needs of the renewables market.”

The 95-metre-long CSOVs are of VARD 4 22 design and are customised for the UK-based owner. The VARD 4 22 is the Norwegian company’s first methanol-ready project.

The ships are produced in close collaboration with Vard Design in Ålesund, Norway, and are equipped with a daughter craft with space for a second to suit clients’ operational needs.

In October, EnBW awarded North Star a contract for a CSOV to be deployed at the 960 MW He Dreiht offshore wind farm in Germany.