Chinese shipbuilder Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) has launched the Wind of Ocean, the first service operation vessel built by the shipbuilder for French shipping group LD Armateurs.
The launch marks the beginning of a phase in which key equipment will be installed and onboard systems commissioned.
Measuring 90 metres in length, 19.6 metres in beam, and 7.3 metres in depth, the vessel can accommodate up to 96 people with an endurance exceeding 30 days without resupply.
Propulsion is provided by a diesel-electric hybrid system incorporating lithium batteries, alongside a DP2 system, a 3D motion-compensated crane, and a wave-compensated gangway to enable personnel and equipment transfers in high sea states.
Designed for unrestricted service in the North Sea, the vessel also features offshore living quarters for crew members and maintenance technicians.
The project comprises two vessels, marking the first collaboration between both companies, with the second unit having already reached the keel-laying milestone.
Once completed, Wind of Ocean will be deployed to the DanTysk and Sandbank offshore wind farms in Germany's North Sea.
It will provide long-term operations and maintenance support across the operational lifecycles of the facilities, including equipment servicing and spare parts replacement.
