North Star has secured its first contract for a commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV), with EnBW, for the newbuild Grampian Kestrel CSOV of VARD 4 22 design.
This is the company’s second award with EnBW.
This award 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 960 MW He Dreiht wind farm in the North Sea.
From the end of next year, 64 wind turbines with an installed output of 15 MW each, located 90 kilometers northwest of the island of Borkum and 110 kilometers west of Helgoland, are scheduled to be connected to the grid.
Tailored for the commissioning phase, the Grampian Kestrel is slated to offer essential accommodation and logistics to support the construction and commissioning works next year. Following this period, it is set to lead EnBW’s O&M activities until the newbuild SOV is expected to be delivered in 2026.
“Securing this commissioning vessel contract with EnBW highlights our strategic move to broaden our hybrid SOV services aligned to the European renewables market,” says Matthew Gordon, North Star CEO.
“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 the company, with methanol-ready hybrid-propulsion solutions and an increased number of single cabins.
