Acta Marine's newest commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) has successfully completed her shakedown and mobilisation period and is now beginning to serve a long-term charter agreement in support of RWE's Sofia offshore wind farm in the UK.
Operating from Grimsby, Acta Gemini will provide offshore accommodation and walk-to-work services for technicians and specialists involved in the commissioning and future operation and maintenance of the 1.4GW Sofia offshore wind farm.
Acta Marine said Sofia is one of Europe’s largest offshore wind projects.
Located on Dogger Bank in the North Sea approximately 195 kilometres off the UK’s north-east coast, Sofia is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of 1.2 million UK homes once fully operational.
Like her earlier sisters Acta Pegasus and Acta Hercules, Acta Gemini was designed by Ulstein Design and Solutions of Norway and built to DNV class rules.
The CSOV was designed to offer comfortable accommodation and workspaces for up to 135 personnel tasked with supporting operations at offshore wind farms.
The vessel has an LOA of 89.6 metres, a moulded beam of 19.2 metres, a design draught of five metres, a moulded depth of 7.6 metres, a deadweight of 2,200, and a gross tonnage of approximately 6,749. The weather deck and the main deck have a total area of 940 square metres and a capacity of 1,000 tons.
Acta Gemini was built based on Ulstein’s advanced twin stern hull design with two main propeller units at the end of each of the sterns. Acta Marine said this configuration provides reduced pitching, enhanced in-field operability, high DP capability and optimal performance in challenging weather conditions.
