Keel laying ceremony for DEME’s first dedicated Service Operation Vessel for offshore wind farm maintenance

To be able to offer the total package of services to the offshore wind industry - from installation to maintenance - DEME is investing in its first Service Operation Vessel (SOV) for wind farm maintenance. Concepted by DEME and further designed in close cooperation with Vuyk Engineering Rotterdam and Marin , this innovative vessel  significantly improves safety, comfort and workability for wind farm technicians even in the roughest sea conditions. The keel laying ceremony took place on December 13 at the CEMRE shipyard in Yalova, Turkey. 

The SOV will feature a Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) design, which ensures low wave impact on movements when approaching the wind turbines, compared to a monohull SOV. The vessel will enable safe crew transfers in significant wave heights of up to 2.5 m, being the first DP2, twin-hulled SOV in the world. 

At 60 m long, the SOV will be equipped with a motion compensated gangway and daughter craft to safely transfer technicians to the wind turbines, increasing the workability and logistics capabilities of the vessel. It is also designed according to the latest comfort standards, allowing the vessel to be a homely offshore base for up to 24 technicians and a nautical crew.

Environmental considerations are an important element of the vessel design with, amongst others, a waste heat recovery system and a Clean Design notation. With the provided DP2 technology  the vessel can hold its position in rough sea conditions but still operate with lower fuel consumption when compared to traditional SOVs. A reduction of fuel consumption up to 50% can be achieved compared to a monohull SOV.

“We believe the twin-hulled design, a motion compensated gangway and dynamic positioning is a winning combination and will further reduce the costs of wind farm maintenance, especially compared to large monohulls reaching similar workability,” says Michael Glavind, Business Unit Director DEME Offshore. “With this first SOV joining our fleet, we further strengthen our capabilities to offer the full offshore wind package, from installation to maintenance.”

Long-term charter agreement with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy
Due for delivery in 2021,  the SOV will be chartered by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy as part of a long-term maintenance contract for the Rentel and Mermaid & Seastar (referred as SeaMade) offshore wind farms in Belgium. This is the first SOV to serve three different wind farm sites. 

“We keep innovating in offshore service logistics, this SOV is the next proof point: we are and keep being front movers with this pitstop concept to perform service with one SOV at three windfarms, comments Rene Wigmans, Siemens Gamesa’s Head of Maritime and Aviation Solutions.”

DEME is a world leader in the highly specialised fields of dredging, marine engineering and environmental remediation. The company can build on more than 140 years of know-how and experience and has fostered a pioneering approach throughout its history, being a front runner in innovation and new technologies.

DEME’s vision is to work towards a sustainable future by offering solutions for global challenges: a rising sea level, a growing population, reduction of CO2 emissions, polluted rivers and soils and the scarcity of natural resources. Although DEME’s activities originated with the core dredging business, the portfolio diversified substantially over the decades, including dredging and land reclamation, solutions for the offshore energy market, infra marine solutions and environmental solutions.

While the company’s roots are in Belgium, DEME has built a strong presence in all of the world’s seas and continents, operating in more than 90 countries worldwide. DEME can rely on 5,200 highly skilled professionals across the globe. With a versatile and modern fleet of over 100 vessels, backed by a broad range of auxiliary equipment, the company can provide solutions for even the most complex projects.

DEME achieved a turnover of 2.65 billion euros in 2018.