North Star lands commissioning SOV contract, key role in Europe offshore wind work
North Star has secured its first contract for a commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV), a second award with EnBW, further establishing the company’s growing presence in the European offshore wind sector.
This award for the newbuild Grampian Kestrel CSOV (of VARD 4 22 design), will precede the decade-long minimum charter contract the firm signed in February to provide a SOV (of VARD 407 design) for the German energy utility firm's He Dreiht wind farm in the North Sea.
With a total installed output of 960 MW, the development is currently one of Europe's largest energy transition projects and will be able to supply 1.1 million households with renewable energy. From the end of next year, 64 wind turbines with an installed output of 15 MW each around 90 kilometers northwest of the island of Borkum and 110 kilometers west of Helgoland will be connected to the grid.
Tailored for the commissioning phase, the Grampian Kestrel will offer essential accommodation and logistics to support the construction and commissioning works in 2025. Following this period, it will lead EnBW's operations and maintenance activities until the newbuild SOV is delivered in Q3 2026.
"Securing this commissioning vessel contract with EnBW highlights our strategic move to broaden our hybrid SOV services aligned to the European renewables market," said North Star CEO Matthew Gordon. "It also demonstrates our ability to meet the unique demands of large-scale projects like EnBW’s He Dreiht wind farm."
"The CSOV, part of North Star's growing fleet as we aim to add 40 SOVs by 2040, will be equipped with market-leading accessibility to enable commissioning and maintenance operations, and feature the latest hull design optimized for low fuel consumption and resistance, as well as high operability and comfort.
This new contract with EnBW sets the stage for a long-term partnership and positions North Star as a key player in the transition to renewable energy."
The Grampian Kestrel is the first of two CSOVs under construction for North Star. The VARD 4 22 design has been developed especially for North Star, with new methanol-ready hybrid-propulsion solutions and an increased number of single cabins, providing hotel quality accommodation for the technicians working in field.
"The contract gives us the flexibility we need to respond quickly and efficiently to the upcoming challenges during the construction and commissioning of He Dreiht," said Stefan Umland, EnBW's construction manager. "The Grampian Kestrel provides us with state-of-the-art accommodation and transport facilities for the technicians deployed within the windfarm."
The firm, which has a base in Hamburg as well as U.K. operations in Aberdeen, Lowestoft and Newcastle, has a 1,400 strong onshore and seafaring workforce, and has added a total of eight SOVs and CSOVs to its fleet since entering the offshore wind market in March 2021.
About North Star
North Star is the market-leading U.K. provider of mission critical, offshore infrastructure support services to offshore wind and offshore oil and gas markets.
The firm has bases in Aberdeen, Lowestoft and Newcastle and Hamburg, and has a workforce of 1,400 seafarers and onshore personnel. It has been supporting the energy sector for the past four decades. Its offshore infrastructure support vessel fleet boasts 42 assets and provides continuous around the clock support services to more than 50 North Sea installations. The company's first three of four Service Operations Vessels (SOVs), the Grampian Tyne, Grampian Derwent and Grampian Tees have been delivered to support the Dogger Bank Wind Farm partners, all are under charter for a 10-year minimum. The business has also invested in its first two Commissioning SOVs to support the growing European offshore wind market.
About EnBW
With over 28,000 employees, EnBW is one of the largest energy companies in Germany and Europe. It supplies around 5.5 million customers with electricity and gas. As part of its transformation from a traditional energy company to a sustainable infrastructure group, the expansion of renewable energy sources and of the distribution and transmission grids for electricity, gas and hydrogen are cornerstones of EnBW's growth strategy and the focus of its investments. Until 2030, EnBW plans gross investments of €40 billion. By then, around 80 percent of EnBW's generation portfolio is to consist of renewable energies, and the company aims to phase out coal by the end of 2028. These are key milestones on the road to the company's climate neutrality in 2035.
