Edda Wind orders three additional CSOVs

Edda Wind orders three Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOV) in addition to the six vessels the company has under construction. The vessels are specially designed for service operations during the commissioning and operation of offshore wind farms. The three vessels will be prepared for instalment of zero-emission technology in the same way as the first six vessels, based on funding from Enova.  

Edda Wind has a strong track record and has been operating in the offshore wind segment since 2015. Including the three latest newbuildings, the company will have a fleet of eleven purpose-built vessels, of which six are contracted on mid- to long term contracts with key clients like Ørsted, Vestas, Ocean Breeze, SSE and SiemensGamesa. Of the latest newbuilds, one vessel will be built at Astilleros Gondan (“Gondan”), Spain and two vessels to be built at Colombo Dockyard PLC (“Colombo”), Sri Lanka. In addition, the company has options with the yards to build more vessels.

“Ordering another three purpose-built CSOVs will further strengthen Edda Wind’s leading position within offshore wind. By building a series of vessels like this, and with the experience and knowledge we have from the vessels currently under constructions, we are able to acquire these vessels at competitive prices. Tremendous growth is expected in the offshore wind market over the next decades, and the move is a clear signal on Edda Wind’s ambition to be a world-leading provider in this segment,” says Kenneth Walland, CEO of Edda Wind.

In Q4 2021 Edda Wind was listed at Oslo Stock exchange through a substantially oversubscribed IPO, raising almost NOK 1 bn in new capital. “This latest investment delivers on the growth strategy, capitalizing on the position Edda Wind has built with clients, yards and other stakeholders and further strengthening our position as the leading pure-play offshore wind vessel provider”, says Walland.

About the vessels

One newbuild will be built at Gondan with Salt 0217 design and a planned delivery in July 2024. The vessel will be sister vessel of the four vessels already under construction at Gondan.

“The vessel will be number eighteen ordered by companies with relation to the Østensjø Group, including seven Edda Wind vessels. With this track record, it is needless to say that we consider Gondan to be an excellent ship builder. We know their capabilities very well, and the yard has proven to deliver the quality we require and are very happy to enter into a new contract with them”. says Walland.

The two newbuilds at Colombo will be of Salt 0425 design, which is a further development of the Salt 0217 design. The first vessel will be delivered January 2024 and the second vessel July 2024.

Colombo Dockyard is a publicly listed shipyard located in Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka with operations since 1974. The company is 51 % owned by Onomichi Dockyard, Japan since 1993 and has an extended working relation with same, incl. Chairman and part of management positions covered by Onomichi managers. Colombo Dockyard delivered a complex cable laying vessel of Vard-design (the “KDDI Cable Infinity) to Kokusai Cable Ship Co Ltd (KCS), Japan in 2019. The yard has earlier delivered a series of 200 t Bollard Pull DP2-operated Anchor Handling vessels of Wartsila-design as well as PSVs. Colombo Dockyard is presently constructing a cable laying and repair vessel (CRV)for a French owner for delivery in 2023. The yard will further deliver six Hybrid battery operated Eco Bulk carriers of Wartsila-design for a Norwegian owner from mid-2022 onwards.

Edda Wind has negotiated provisions in the Ship Building contract reflecting the company’s high expectations for the CSOVs to be delivered with regards to sustainability, HSE, workmanship and ability to deliver expected quality within agreed delivery times. Edda Wind will also utilize the services and experience of Østensjø Rederi as project manager, including on-site building supervision.

The 89.3 meters long vessels will function as mother ships for wind turbine technicians as they perform commissioning and maintenance work on the wind turbines. Comfortable cabins and high standard common areas can accommodate up to 97 technicians and 23 marine crew onboard. Anti-heeling and roll reduction systems will provide good working conditions onboard. The motion compensated gangway system with an adjustable pedestal will ensure safe and optimal connections to the turbines, even in harsh weather conditions. The design is optimised for an efficient logistical operation for the turbine technicians.

Norwegian suppliers will deliver a major part of the vessel’s main systems, amounting to about 30 % of the total deliveries at Gondan and about 40 % of the total deliveries at Colombo. The vessels will be delivered under the Norwegian flag.

“The main design objective has been to build the most environmentally friendly vessels without compromising operational capabilities. The vessel design will reduce emission of greenhouse gases significantly. Edda Wind continues the collaboration with Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime AS and prepares the vessels for future zero-emission technology. The technology, which is based on funding from Enova, is based on Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC), which will ensure safe and efficient use of hydrogen as an energy source” says Kenneth Walland.