Bibby Marine has launched its new electric commissioning service operation vessel (eCSOV) at Armon Shipyard in Vigo, Spain.
The vessel entered the water on 10 October at an event attended by members of the Bibby family, Bibby Line Group representatives and project partners.
The eCSOV will now undergo further outfitting at the shipyard, including the installation of its battery systems, ahead of delivery and a formal naming ceremony in 2027.
The vessel, to be named Staffordshire, is designed around battery-first propulsion, with its energy storage system serving as the primary power source rather than supplementing conventional propulsion.
Bibby Marine said this approach could reduce vessel operating costs by more than 40 per cent in self-charging mode and by around 70 per cent when operating solely on offshore charging.
The company is working with Kongsberg and Corvus Energy on the vessel’s propulsion and battery systems, respectively, and with Stillstrom to develop offshore charging compatibility. The project has also received GBP 20 million (nearly EUR 24 million) in funding through the UK’s Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) programme.
The eCSOV will be the fifth in the Bibby fleet to carry the name Staffordshire, following vessels launched in 1894, 1929, 1950 and 1977.
“Seeing the vessel in the water is a landmark moment for everyone involved in the project. Bibby has moved with every energy transition since 1807, from wind to steam, coal to oil, and now to battery power, putting the most advanced propulsion available to work, not just the most familiar. It’s exactly what the offshore wind sector needs from its support fleet next”, said Nigel Quinn, CEO at Bibby Marine.