Norwegian shipbuilder Ulstein has delivered the primary of two new offshore wind farm Service Operation Vessels to Bernhard Schulte Offshore.

The vessel is the primary to function the brand new X-Stern designed by Ulstein. Its title might be revealed throughout a ceremony on June 30. 

The vessel relies on Ulstein’s SX175 design, developed to fulfill the calls for of servicing and upkeep of offshore wind installations. Its main activity might be to offer transport and lodging providers for technicians to the Gemini Offshore Wind Park, positioned roughly 53 miles north of Groningen, Netherlands. 

The X-STERN was first launched in 2014 because the successor to Ulstein’s common X-BOW hull. The X-STERN is designed so {that a} vessel will be positioned with the strict confronted in the direction of the climate as an alternative of the bow, resulting in improved climate resistance, higher operability and decreased energy and gas consumption whereas on DP mode, making it very best for 

Ulstein obtained the order for the vessels in January 2015 by Germany-based Bernhard Schulte by way of its offshore wind affiliate WINDEA Offshore, marking the primary order for the X-STERN hull. 

The hull of the vessel arrived on the Ulstein Verft shipyard in Ulsteinvik, Norway in January 2016 after arriving from Poland, the place the 2 hulls have been constructed.

 The 600 megawatt Gemini wind farm is operated by SIEMENS Wind Power Service. Once operational in 2017, the wind farm will have the ability to produce sufficient renewable power to energy about 780,000 Dutch households. 

Vessel Particulars:

• Vessel kind: Service Operation Vessel (SOV) for offshore wind generators
• Design kind: ULSTEIN SX175
• Construction yard: Ulstein Verft AS
• Design firm: Ulstein Design & Solutions AS
• Length: 88 m
• Beam: 18 m
• Deadweight: 3,150 t
• Draught (max): 6.4 m
• Speed: 13.9 knots (bow first), 12.1 knots (stern first)
• Accommodation: 60 individuals Cargo deck space: 380 m2
• Dynamic positioning: IMO Class II (DYNPOS AUTR)
• Main propulsion system: Two azimuth thrusters, every pushed by a frequency managed variable velocity electrical motor.
• Additional thrusters: One retractable azimuth thruster, two facet thrusters ahead