Next-generation OSV Bertha B set to reinforce Zumaia Offshore’s operational and environmental capabilities
Starting in mid-March, Zumaia Offshore’s DP2 PSV Bertha B will begin an ambitious six-month conversion project designed to modernise and fully integrate her propulsion, manoeuvring, and onboard service systems, while simultaneously completing her five-year Special Class Survey. The upgrade includes the full electrification of the vessel’s propulsion plant, the replacement of combustion engine–driven equipment, and comprehensive enhancements to the manoeuvring and dynamic positioning systems under a unified electrical architecture.
This transformation will position the vessel at the technological forefront of the offshore sector, boosting operational performance and significantly improving day-to-day efficiency. The impact will be substantial: the new configuration is expected to cut emissions by nearly 40% and markedly reduce the vessel’s overall environmental footprint. This investment represents a decisive step forward in our commitment to operational excellence, energy efficiency, and long-term sustainability.
Led by Zumaia Offshore S.L., and supported by key partners including Finanzauto, CINTRANAVAL Ship Design, Veth Propulsion by Twin Disc, Lynxeo, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), and Astilleros de Santander S.A.U., this project will evolve the Bertha B into a next-generation offshore support vessel, one that sets a new benchmark in innovation, decarbonisation, and marine environmental protection.
Today, the Bertha B, owned jointly by Zumaia Offshore and the Erhardt Group, provides 24/7/365 surveillance, emergency response, and assistance services to Enagás at the Gaviota platform, a strategic gas-storage facility located approximately six nautical miles off the port of Bermeo in the Basque Country.
