New partnership to deliver next-gen service vessel for floating wind

North Star, a UK-based service operations vessel (SOV) operator, has launched a partnership to address the challenges around delivery of operations and maintenance ships tailored for floating offshore wind farms.

The firm has signed a memorandum of understanding with MO4, Principle Power, SMST, VARD, and Voith Group, to establish a dedicated working group to help fast-track the design and testing of a new SOV concept.

Together, the six organisations plan to develop a detailed ship design to meet the needs of commercial-scale projects, such as the 17GW of floating projects awarded in the ScotWind leasing round.

As offshore wind moves into deeper waters, the sector faces significant logistical and operational challenges that must be addressed efficiently and cost-effectively.

According to North Star, while the industry has demonstrated the ability to safely complete transfers from traditional SOVs to floating wind platforms, there is room for improvement in transfers where both the vessel and platform are dynamic and in motion.

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Commercial-scale projects provide the opportunity to optimise these transfers by enabling the development of bespoke SOVs operated under long-term contract that specifically address the local challenges and the requirements of floating wind project operators.

The North Star collaboration seeks to capitalise on this opportunity with an SOV design that delivers on safety and efficiency.

North Star’s renewables & innovations director Andrew Duncan commented in a statement: “Floating offshore wind presents both challenges and opportunities, and through this collaboration, we can innovate, and design a solution specifically tailored for GW-scale projects.

"By pushing the boundaries of what's possible, we can ensure that our future SOVs deliver the highest levels of safety, efficiency, and operational flexibility, ultimately paving the way for a more sustainable energy future.”

Site visit: Inside the O&M base for a floating offshore wind project

The partnership’s key contributions include:

• North Star will lead the vessel design process, ensuring that logistics and service needs are fully integrated to meet real-world demands in the field.
• Digital twin and AI decision support software firm MO4 will be responsible for assessing the workability of the proposed SOV concept.
• Principle Power will provide critical data on the range of motions expected from WindFloat platforms and will define operational use cases for inspection, maintenance, and repair.
• International offshore equipment design and build specialist SMST will bring its expertise in gangway technology, providing data on different walk-to-work options, workability parameters, and solutions for landing height adjustments.
• As key integrator, VARD, a global designer and specialised vessel shipbuilder, will combine inputs from all partners to develop a cohesive floating offshore wind ship design.
• Global technology company Voith Group will contribute propulsion options, selecting the most suitable DP systems to maintain stability and performance in the challenging environment of floating offshore wind.

Duncan concluded: “The detailed ship design will be put to the test through rigorous workability assessments, ensuring that it meets the highest standards of performance, safety, and efficiency before being implemented in future floating wind projects.”