Offshore Vessel News Roundup | June 1 – Wind support newbuildings in Norway and China plus a fallpipe vessel refit

A windfarm maintenance vessel enters service in Norway as construction is underway on similar vessels in China for the domestic and overseas markets. A Dutch marine contractor meanwhile welcomes a rebuilt rock installation ship back into service.

REM Offshore christens newest addition to fleet

Norwegian operator REM Offshore has formally named its newest commissioning service operation vessel, the 85-metre Rem Power.

The vessel will be fitted with a height-adjustable motion-compensated gangway with elevator system, a height-adjustable boat landing system, and a 3D-compensated electrical crane. Accommodations are available for 120 people.

The hull was built at Vard Braila in Romania while completion took place at Vard Søviknes in Norway.

Rem Power was developed by Vard Design as a versatile platform for all offshore wind support operations, focusing on onboard logistics, security, comfort, and operability. The vessel is equipped to provide services during construction, operation, and maintenance of offshore wind farms.

Chinese yard floats out second CSOV in series for Integrated Wind Solutions

China Merchants Heavy Industry has floated out the second CSOV in a series ordered by Norwegian offshore support company Integrated Wind Solutions (IWS).

IWS Windwalker and its five sisters will be delivered over the next two years. Class lead vessel IWS Skywalker will enter service before the end of 2023 and will be deployed at the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm in UK waters.

Design work on the CSOVs was provided by Kongsberg Maritime.

Converted vessel to undertake fallpipe duties for Boskalis

Boskalis has placed one of its existing vessels back in service following conversion work that will enable it to perform subsea rock installation.

Seapiper was originally operated as a semi-submersible vessel as part of Boskalis’ heavy transport fleet. The vessel is now equipped for fallpipe work following a nine-month refit at the Singapore facilities of ST Marine.

The conversion entailed the incorporation of new equipment including a fallpipe tower, a moonpool, two electric excavators and cranes, conveyor belts, and two large holds that can carry a total of 15,000 tonnes of rock. Additional accommodation spaces were also installed.

New Chinese-built SWATH wind maintenance vessel hits the water

China’s Wuhu Shipyard recently launched a new offshore wind maintenance vessel ordered by local operator Hainan Guangdong Shipping.

The 38.5-metre-long, 12-tonne vessel features a prominent SWATH design to ensure improved seakeeping while the propulsion system will deliver a speed of 14 knots.

Design work on the vessel was provided by the China Shipbuilding Science Research Centre in compliance to China Classification Society rules.