Østensjø Rederi has been awarded a contract to support a Service Operation Vessel (SOV) to DONG Energy. The contract will require a new build vessel for operations at Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm in the UK.

The contract awarded by DONG Energy has a five years firm period with five optional years. Commencement date is set for 1 September 2017. The vessel will function as a mother ship for wind turbine technicians as they perform maintenance work on Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm in the United Kingdom.

“This contract enables us to expand our business into the renewable energy sector. It has been the strategy of Østensjø Rederi to diversify our operations. Thus, we are pleased that DONG Energy has awarded us this exciting opportunity in a sector we believe have further demands for similar vessels in the near future”, says Johan Rokstad, CEO of Østensjø Rederi AS.

The new build is a DP2 Service Operation Vessel with high station keeping capacities. 60 single cabins of high standard can accommodate up to 40 wind turbine technicians in addition to a marine crew of 20. A motion compensated gangway system with an adjustable pedestal will be installed to ensure safe operations and optimal uptime. Special areas and functions of the vessel are made in accordance with the charterer's requirements. The 81,10 m long vessel, with a beam of 17,0 m, will work out of Grimsby operation base.

“The Service Operating Vessel will be an important step to ensure safe and efficient operation of windfarms far from shore, starting with Race Bank windfarm, and we are convinced that DONG Energy will benefit from Østensjø Rederi’s long experience in conducting safe operations in an offshore environment.“, says Jens Jakobsson, Senior Vice President for Wind Power Operations in DONG Energy

The Service Operation Vessel is designed by Rolls Royce in close cooperation with Østensjø Rederi. Astilleros Gondan in Spain is building the vessel. A decision that emphasise a long and strong relationship between the companies as this will be the 12th vessel Østensjø Rederi builds at Astilleros Gondan. The broker company F3 Offshore, Germany, is engaged by Østensjø Rederi to assist in the tender.

Source: ostensjo.no