The second hybrid Service Operation Vessel (SOV) for North Star Shipping (Aberdeen) Limited, UK, has its steel-cutting ceremony conducted by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). James Bradford, North Star Shipping’s Chief Technology Officer, presided over the ceremony. In front of Harikrishnan S. (Executive Director—Shipbuilding) and Jose V. J. (Director—Finance), as well as other senior CSL officials and representatives from the classification society DNV, Bradford began cutting the first steel plate.
As a leader in the offshore wind sector, North Star Shipping Ltd. is dedicated to creating sustainable energy solutions in response to the global push for a greener future. The Norwegian company VARD AS designed the 86-meter hybrid-electric SOV.
CSL is building two SOVs for North Star, the second of which is the VARD 4 19 SOV. According to a press release, the DP2 class ship is propelled by a combination of high-capacity Li-ion batteries and four Yanmar diesel main generating units. The SMST Walk-to-Work system is being installed on the ship. Because it was specifically created to meet the exacting specifications of the offshore wind industry, it is anticipated that once it is put into operation, it will completely transform the activities associated with servicing, maintaining, and operating. This state-of-the-art walk-to-work vessel would serve as a warehouse and logistics center and housing 80 people, including crew and specialists, who would be in charge of maintaining wind turbines.
