Jumbo Offshore Completes Monopile Removal Job in Taiwan
Dutch heavy lift shipping and offshore transport and installation contractor Jumbo Offshore has completed the removal of two monopiles on the Yunlin offshore wind farm in Taiwan.The Jumbo Offshore crew carried out the work by deploying its DP2 heavy lift crane vessel Fairplayer from Europe to support the onsite operations.Jumbo Offshore was awarded the contract by Yunneng Wind Power (YWPC) earlier in 2024 for the removal of monopiles at the Yunlin offshore wind farm.The contract award represented an expansion of Jumbo Offshore’s existing scope…
North Star Eyes 40 Hybrid SOVs by 2040 with New Funding in Its Pockets
North Star has secured debt investment of up to $543 million (£425 million) to fuel the next phase of its European offshore wind expansion, setting the target to add 40 hybrid service operation vessels (SOVs) to its fleet by 2040.The committed financial package of $287 million (£225 million) includes term facilities from existing lender, IFM Investors, and committed capex and working capital resources from banks including ABN AMRO (sustainability co-ordinator), AIB, NAB, Royal…
MDL Invests $9M to Expand Its Flexlay Asset Range
Back-deck engineering specialist Maritime Developments (MDL) has committed $9 million (£7 million) of capital investment to expand its flexlay asset range.The investment covers six new pieces of modular equipment in MDL’s portfolio, including high-capacity tensioners and reel drive systems, as well as the most recent innovation - Wheeled Horizontal Lay System (WHLS).The Wheeled Horizontal Lay System, unveiled by MDL in 202, has already delivered the maiden unit to an offshore…
Palfinger to Supply Major Equipment Package for Prysmian’s New Cable Layer
Palfinger Marine, an Austrian manufacturer of hydraulic lifting, loading, and handling systems for marine applications, has been contracted to supply a major equipment package for a new cable laying vessel, under construction at Vard for Prysmian.Following the previous orders to equip cable laying vessels Leonardo da Vinci and Monna Lisa, Palfinger Marine will provide deck equipment and lifesaving appliances (LSA) for another upcoming cable laying vessel built by Vard for Prysmian.Because the vessel is the evolution of Prysmian’s previous cable layers…
Dutch Subsea Services Newcomer Acquires First Vessel
FreeStar Subsea Services, a Netherlands-based company established by the merger of Vriezoo ROV Services and Mark Offshore, has acquired its first vessel and started operations.The company offers remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and survey support services with its own vessel, the SSV Navicula Star, which was recently acquired the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ).While most mid-sized subsea companies specialize in either vessel or ROV services, FreeStar’s owners…
Strategic Marine Delivers Two Offshore Wind CTVs to Mainprize Offshore
Singaporean shipbuilder Strategic Marine has delivered two offshore wind Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) to UK-based Mainprize Offshore.The two 27-meter vessels are part of the UK-based CTV owner and operator’s ongoing fleet expansion and will add to its current fleet of 11 vessels.Scheduled for operations in European waters from July 2024 onwards, both vessels will be carrying out crew transfers in Europe.The vessels feature Supa-SWATH hull design for enhanced seakeeping with reduced…
DOF’s Pipelay Support Vessel Hooks Petrobras Job
Norwegian offshore vessel operator DOF Group has secured a ‘major contract’ from Petrobras for its pipelay support vessel (PLSV) Skandi Vitória.DOF secured a three-year firm contract, plus option, for its PLSV Skandi Vitória as part of an ongoing tender process.The contract starts in 2025, according to DOF.The vessel is Brazilian-built and flagged and owned by DOFCON Navegação, a joint venture between DOF Subsea (50%) and TechnipFMC (50%).kandi Vitória is an ROV construction support vessel…
South African Appeals Court Throws Lifeline to Shell's Wild Coast Exploration
A South African appeals court on Monday suspended a previous ruling that halted offshore exploration by Shell along the unspoilt Wild Coast and allowed oil companies another chance at public consultation, court documents showed.The lack of public consultation was among key reasons why a lower court ruled against Shell and other oil companies Impact Africa and BG International.In a keenly watched decision, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) provided a lifeline to oil companies exploring along South Africa's coast…
Reach Subsea Extends Charter for IMR Vessel Havila Subsea
Norwegian subsea services firm Reach Subsea has entered the agreement with vessel owner Havila Shipping to extend the charter for inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) vessel Havila Subsea.The contract extension is for a firm period of three years, until the end of 2027, with tow one year options.“In a rising market, maintaining strong operational control over core assets is crucial. We are witnessing ongoing positive market trends, with our order book and tender volume consistently increasing year by year…
NKT Names New Methanol-Powered Cable Laying Vessel
Danish subsea cable and services firm NKT has named its second cable laying vessel (CLV) NKT Eleonora, which has been designed to run on methanol.NKT Eleonora, meaning shining light, will boost the company’s offshore cable laying capacity and will be amongst the world’s first cable laying vessels designed to run on methanol.Equipped with three turntables, NKT Eleonora will offer a power cable-laying capacity of 23,000 tonnes and host a range of subsea tooling for precise installation…
Saipem Adds Heavy-Lift Pipelay Vessel JSD6000 to Its Fleet
Italian offshore energy services firm Saipem has signed a long-term charter contract with Chinese state-owned port and naval machinery manufacturer ZPMC for the JSD6000, a latest generation ship for offshore heavy lifting, construction and pipelaying.The signed contract provides for the bareboat charter of the ship for a five-year duration, plus two extension options of one year each.The vessel will be delivered to Saipem in June 2024 and will become part of the company’s fleet.Equipped with a DP3 dynamic positioning system and a heavy-lift capacity of up to 5…
Damen Delivers Third Low-Emission Offshore Wind Fast Crew Boat to Purus
Damen Shipyards has delivered the third fast crew supplier (FCS) hybrid vessel to Purus, designed to provide low emission crew transfer services to the offshore wind sector.The vessels are fitted with 190 kW battery arrays that enable them to sail zero emissions while in harbor and when loitering at offshore wind farms.In addition to their hybrid capabilities, the FCS 2710 Hybrids are IMO Tier III compliant, with significantly reduced NOX and SOX emissions. With this performance…
Huisman Inks Deepwater Crane Supply Deal with Malaysia’s Oilfield Services Firm
Dutch company Huisman has secured its first contract from Coastal International Marine, part of Malaysia-based oil and gas services company Coastal Contracts, for the supply of deepwater Knuckle Boom Crane.The Knuckle Boom Crane has a lifting capacity of 100 mt and features a deepwater winch and active heave compensation.Huisman recently introduced its optimised KBC series, designed specifically for the offshore subsea construction market.The optimised models align with the latest trends in offshore construction vessels…
BOEM Finalizes Environmental Review of Gulf of Maine Offshore Wind Research Lease
The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has released its Final Environmental Assessment (Final EA) of an offshore wind research lease in the Gulf of Maine. In October 2021, the state of Maine requested a research lease for the purpose of researching floating offshore wind energy technology and its deployment. The research site lies 28 nautical miles off the coast of Maine, roughly southeast of Portland, and if developed would comprise up to 12 floating offshore wind turbines capable of generating up to 144 megawatts of renewable energy.
Orsted, New Jersey Reach Settlement Over Canceled Offshore Wind Farms
New Jersey officials said the state will receive $125 million from a legal settlement with Denmark's Orsted ORSTED.CO over the company's cancellation last year of two offshore wind farm projects.The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities said in a statement that the funds will be used for investments in wind component manufacturing facilities and wind farms.The settlement comes nearly seven months after Orsted said it would stop developing the Ocean Wind 1 and 2 projects off the coast of New Jersey as it struggled with soaring costs and supply chain delays.The cancellations triggered an angry re
Van Oord’s Boreas Set for First Job at German Offshore Wind Project
Dutch offshore installation firm Van Oord has secured a contract from RWE for the transport and installation of monopile foundations for the Nordseecluster offshore wind project in Germany.This project will be the first project for the Van Oord’s brand-new offshore installation vessel Boreas, which is currently under construction.Van Oord’s scope includes the installation of 104 extended monopiles as well as the installation of the scour protection. In 2025, 44 monopiles are planned…
New Petrobras CEO Says Oil Prospect is of “National Interest”
Petrobras' new chief executive said a basin in Brazil's Equatorial Margin, an environmentally sensitive offshore prospect seen as the country's most promising frontier for oil exploration, was a matter of "national interest."Magda Chambriard, who took over as the state-controlled oil company's chief executive after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva fired its former CEO this month, said on Monday she wanted to escalate talks about the region near Guyana to the National Council of Energy Policy (CNPE)…
Portugal's New Government Committed to Developing Offshore Wind
Portugal's new government is committed to developing offshore wind energy and also sees "repowering" onshore wind farms and promoting solar projects, including small-scale ones, as a priority, the environment minister said on Monday.Maria da Graca Carvalho said the government would announce some details of its offshore wind energy policy in July as investors await guidelines on a planned key licensing action announced last year under the previous administration.The previous administration…
North Star Inks Contract with Siemens Gamesa for New East Anglia THREE SOV
North Star has secured a contract with Siemens Gamesa to build a hybrid service operations vessel (SOV) bound for long-term charter at the East Anglia THREE offshore wind farm in UK.Cochin Shipyard has been confirmed to build the SOV of VARD 4 19 design for North Star’s growing fleet.The high specification vessel will accommodate up to 60 of its client’s wind technicians as they support maintenance operations across all 95 wind turbines at the East Anglia Hub development. To ensure safe crew transfers…
Carimin Buys Crew Boat Newbuild from Penguin Shipyards for $5M
Malaysia-based offshore services provider Carimin Resources Services, a subsidiary of Carimin Petroleum, has signed an agreement with Penguin Shipyard Asia for the acquisition of unregistered crew boat newbuild, worth $4.96 million.The newbuild multi-role executive crew boat is of Penguin's proprietary Flex-42X design.Penguin’s Flex-42MX and Flex-42X can transport up to 60 tons of deck cargo on a 110-square meter cargo deck, and hold 80,000 liters of fuel and 20,000 liters of fresh water.The overall of the vessel…
Cadeler Secures Vessels Reservation Deal with Mistery Client Worth Up to $760M
Danish offshore wind installation firm Cadeler has signed an installation vessel reservation agreement with an undisclosed client, valued up to $760 million, for upcoming wind farm installation projects.If all options are exercised during the four-year agreement, it would represent the largest deal in Cadeler's history, with the potential value of the projects to be executed under the agreement estimated to be in the range of $430-760 million (€400-700 million).The agreement secures…
Kongsberg Maritime to Make Solstad’s Normand Sentinel More Energy Efficient
Kongsberg Maritime has been tasked to conduct energy efficiency upgrades on Solstad’s Normand Sentinel, one of its most prominent subsea construction vessels.This upgrade will see the vessel transition to Kongsberg Maritime’s electric rim-drive azimuth thrusters, marking a milestone in maritime energy efficiency.The Normand Sentinel, measuring 143 metres in length and boasting years of reliable service, is set to receive this upgrade during its next scheduled drydocking.The vessel’s…
First Foundation Installed for Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind
Dominion Energy has announced that the first monopile foundation for the 2.6-gigawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW), the largest offshore wind farm under construction in the United States, has been installed approximately 29 miles off the Virginia Beach coast.The monopile was installed by the Orion, DEME Group's heavy lift vessel.Once complete in late 2026, CVOW will consist of 176 turbines that will generate enough clean, renewable energy to power up to 660,000 homes…
