On 29 November 2022 Windcat, Europe’s market-leading offshore personnel transfer company, announced an order for the construction of a series of hydrogen-powered Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs), with Damen Shipyards, a global provider of maritime solutions.
The Elevation Series of CSOVs have been designed by Damen Shipyards in cooperation with Windcat and CMB.TECH.
The result is a revolutionary new design with increased capabilities and flexibility compared to existing vessels.
The vessels measure 87m in length with a beam of 20m, and can accommodate 120 people and will be powered by hydrogen. The series will be delivered from 2025.
The CSOVs will be built at Ha Long Shipyard, Vietnam, and will be delivered to Windcat Offshore, a new business unit within Windcat, which will focus on offshore energy commissioning and services.
Initially, two vessels have been ordered with options for further vessels.
A CSOV is a vessel that remains in an offshore wind farm for an extended period of up to 30 days, providing maintenance materials and housing technicians in hotel-style accommodation.
This logical next step in Windcat’s journey builds on Windcat’s 20 years of experience in the offshore renewable energy sector and follows four years of market and vessel design evaluation.
Damen, as creator of one of the first dedicated CSOVs based upon a bespoke design, is a leading global provider of maritime solutions with more than 96 years of experience in shipbuilding.
