Bernhard Schulte Offshore (BS Offshore) has taken delivery of its latest commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) from Ulstein Verft in Norway.
The newbuild, named Windea Curie, is on charter to offshore transmission system operator TenneT, supporting the latter’s offshore grid connection facilities in the North Sea.
Windea Curie, which features Ulstein’s TWIN X-STERN design, has two sterns and azimuth propellers located both fore and aft, supporting DP operations.
Whether the vessel faces toward or away from the weather, it should be able to maintain good operability and flexibility, BS Offshore said. The TWIN X-STERN solution should also provide improved fuel efficiency while minimizing motions, notably of gangway operations involving transfers of offshore technicians.
The large, height-adjustable, centrally positioned walk-to-work motion compensated gangway and elevator tower are suited to personnel and cargo transfers. A 3D compensated crane can perform 5-ton offshore cargo lifts.
Onboard logistics are said to include large storage capacities and a stepless approach to the offshore installations.
Windea Curie, with a length of 89.6 m and a beam of 19.2 m, has up to 90 cabins with windows for charterers’ offshore personnel, and a total of 111 cabins accommodating up to 132 individuals.
The vessel is also equipped with hybrid battery propulsion and prepared for methanol fuel for low-carbon operations. It is suited to tasks such as offshore operations and maintenance and construction support, including in harsh weather and sea conditions.
A sister ship, presently under construction at Ulstein Verft in Norway, should be delivered in August, expanding the BS Offshore fleet to five offshore service vessels. It will support offshore wind and oil and gas projects.
