VESSEL REVIEW | Purus Chinook – Battery hybrid CSOV joins Purus Marine's windfarm support fleet

UK-based Purus has taken delivery of a new commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) built by Vard at its Romania and Norway facilities.

Purus Chinook was designed by Vard Design in close collaboration with Purus to make it suitable for supporting activities in the offshore wind industry. The vessel's hull was constructed at Vard Shipyards Romania (formerly Vard Tulcea), and the final outfitting and commissioning were completed at Vard Søviknes in Norway.

The design work on the CSOV was completed in compliance with DNV requirements, including the COMF C2 V1 class notation for climate, noise and vibration. This ensures optimal onboard temperature regulation, reduced noise and vibration throughout the vessel, directly supporting crew welfare and long-term performance.

The vessel has an LOA of 87.7 metres (288 feet), a beam of 19.5 metres (64 feet), a maximum draught of 5.6 metres (18 feet), and a gross tonnage of 6,217. The working deck has a total area of 410 square metres (4,410 square feet) for the transport of seven 20-foot containers or an equivalent volume of cargo. Warehouse facilities with a total area of 370 square metres (4,000 square feet) are also available.

Stable, manoeuvrable platform boasting significant personnel and cargo capacities

The CSOV boasts excellent seakeeping and fuel efficiency with a modern hull; a layout that guaranteed operability, logistics flow and crew comfort; and an optimised hybrid propulsion system that includes four Yanmar 1,370kW diesel generators and a Vard Electro 744kWh battery pack to allow zero-emission operation for extended periods.

The propulsion system can be configured in the future to enable operation on methanol to further reduce emissions.

The propulsion drives two 1,800kW aft thrusters to deliver a speed of 13 knots. Two 1,200kW azimuthing thrusters and a 1,200kW tunnel thruster are fitted near the bow and provide additional lateral manoeuvrability for berthing/unberthing, positioning, and navigating in port waters.

The CSOV has the capacity to house up to 97 industrial personnel and 23 crewmembers at comfort-class and sea-keeping standards and also offers an 18-metre (59-foot) helicopter deck and a daughtercraft/crewboat with seating for up to 12 technicians.

The accommodation spaces include 50 single cabins, 35 double cabins, a briefing room, a conference room, client offices, meeting rooms, a gym, two mess areas, a day room, and a lounge.

Vard Interiors was responsible for installing critical systems for ensuring crew comfort. These include a complete HVAC system, provision and refrigeration systems, piping, and interior outfitting.

Comprehensive electronics and deck equipment suites

Vard subsidiary Seaonics supplied the CSOV's electric controlled motion compensated crane, which keeps loads stable and close to the crane tip from deck to TP platform to ensure efficient and safe cargo handling.

Seaonics also provided a stepless walk-to-work gangway capable of seamless operation between 15 and 30 metres (49 and 98 feet ) above sea level to further enhance the vessel’s operational capabilities for personnel and cargo transfer. The stern meanwhile features a stepless boat landing.

Purus Chinook is equipped with a complete electronics package from Vard Electro, covering all core systems for smart, safe, and efficient operations. The package includes an integrated bridge system, drives, switchboards, a power monitoring system, CCTV cameras, and LAN/WLAN.

Kongsberg meanwhile provided the DP2 system, which can provide safe station keeping even when subjected to wind speeds of up to 40 knots, two knots of current, or significant wave heights of up to 2.5 metres (8.2 feet).

Purus Chinook’s first deployment will be in fulfilment of a multi-year service contract with Vestas.

Purus Coriolis, the second CSOV in the same series, is scheduled for delivery in 2026.