Windea Leibniz at Ulstein Verft in Norway. [Image: ©BSM/Matthias Giebichenstein]
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) and the Ulstein Verft shipyard in Norway have simply accomplished an SOV to CSOV conversion that would reply some questions for these of us who’re nonetheless hazy about what differentiates an offshore wind CSOV (commissioning service operation vessel) from an SOV (service operation vessel).
Last November, the 2017-built, SX 175 design, SOV Windea Leibniz arrived again at its constructing yard, Ulstein Verft for an improve to a CSOV that included a rise of cabins from 60 to over 80 put in one further walk-to-work gangway pedestal on the strict for Baltic Sea operations to enhance the prevailing North Sea pedestal.
When delivered, the vessel was the one centesimal to function Ulstein’s signature X-bow answer and in addition options the X-stern, with each options delivering elevated consolation and decreased noise and vibrations.
The yard accomplished the SOV to CSOV improve on February 4, 2023.
The 50% enhance in lodging capacities on board required intensive reconstruction of the altering/drying rooms, convention rooms and day rooms. In complete, the cabin capability was elevated from 63 to 81 cabins.
Windea Leibniz can now accommodate as much as 85 technical workers for wind farms, service personnel and crew.
Another main milestone was the set up of a brand new height-adjustable pedestal for the motion-compensated gangway, The gangway can function in a spread between 17.5 meters and 23 meters peak above the waterline when absolutely prolonged.
Bernhard Schulte Offshore determined to put in a second pedestal for the gangway on the stern since hardly some other working offshore wind service vessels might tackle assignments in each the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, the place service platforms are typically positioned decrease than within the North Sea. The current gangway can be utilized on each pedestals.
“With the two new pedestals, we are more flexible when approaching the service platforms for the wind turbines. There is no uniform standard for the height of the platforms in North Sea wind farms,” says the vessel’s captain, Rainer Mueller. “After the yard stay, we can now vary the height of our gangway. With the Baltic pedestal at the stern, we can easily switch our gangway from the North Sea height to the lower Baltic Sea height, which makes us even more flexible when working in different wind farm regions. The new cabins allow us to accommodate more technicians on board. All this really makes Windea Leibniz the new it-girl on the CSOV market.”
Ulstein’s designers and engineers undertook the structural engineering work required for the improve. This included reinforcement of the bridge to hold the gangway which is now parked on the bridge roof. The space for the bottom of the pedestal additionally wanted to be strengthened.
“The new upgrades make a very capable vessel even more versatile. Now our Windea Leibniz is more flexible and attractive for the market. The upgrade was perfectly planned and executed by Ulstein. My thanks go to everyone involved in this great project,” says Matthias Mueller, managing director of Bernhard Schulte Offshore.
