Lloyd’s Register (LR) has been awarded the contract to class two methanol-ready Commissioning Service Operations Vessels (CSOVs) being built by VARD, one of the major global designers and shipbuilders of specialised vessels, for the UK’s leading offshore infrastructure support vessel operator, North Star.
The new tonnage will increase North Star’s offshore wind capabilities as it progresses its ambition to add 40 hybrid-powered SOVs to its fleet by 2040. The introduction of the two CSOVs will expand North Star’s capabilities to support commissioning and maintenance work εssential to ensuring offshore wind farms can operate. Alongside their use as a logistics hub and warehouse, these ships also provide in-field technicians with high-comfort accommodation.
The CSOVs will be built to VARD’s unique 4 22 design and feature a new methanol-ready hybrid-propulsion system coupled with a hull design optimised for low fuel consumption and resistance. The vessel’s hulls will be built at Vard Braila, Romania before being towed to Vard Langsten in Norway for outfitting with an expected delivery date of Spring 2025.
The project builds further on LR’s work in Norway for the delivery of alternative fuelled vessels. In 2022 LR awarded Approval in Principle to Norwegian ship owner Egil Ulvan Rederi for its With Orca zero emissions bulk carrier - which won the Motorship Award in 2022 - and the Torghatten Nord project to provide a hydrogen ferry for Norway’s Vestfjorden route, connecting Bodø, Røst, Værøy and Moskenes.
Michael North, Lloyd’s Register Commercial Manager for Norway and Iceland, said: “LR is pleased to have been awarded the contract to conduct the design appraisal and survey of Vard’s two CSOVs for North Star. The build, design and delivery of these two methanol-ready vessels will represent a positive forward step for the maritime energy transition and LR is looking forward to providing continued support to Vard and the Norwegian shipbuilding industry.”
Thomas Brathaug, Project Manager, VARD, said: “Based on the great cooperation prior to the ship building contract, we are confident that Lloyd’s Register will be a good partner through the completion of the engineering and construction of these vessels with several innovative solutions.”
James Bradford, North Star’s Chief Technology Officer, said: “Our business enjoys a longstanding relationship with Lloyd’s Register, with many of our existing fleet aligned with its classifications, benchmarking the high standard our ships are built to. Ensuring that we drive down emissions is critical to our long-term goals. Having these assets delivered methanol ready will allow us to decarbonise our service offering to our client base and in particular our European clients who will face carbon taxation challenges in the near future.”
About Lloyd’s Register: Trusted maritime advisers, partnering with clients to drive performance across the ocean economy.
Lloyd’s Register (LR) is a global professional services group specialising in marine engineering and technology. Created more than 260 years ago as the world’s first marine classification society, to improve and set standards for the safety of ships.
Today we are a leading provider of classification and compliance services to the marine and offshore industries, helping our clients design, construct and operate their assets to accepted levels of safety and environmental compliance.
We also provide advice, support and solutions on fleet performance and optimisation, voyage optimisation, enhancing our clients’ digital capability. Our digital solutions are relied upon by more than 20,000 vessels.
In the race to zero emissions, our research, technical expertise and industry-firsts are supporting a safe, sustainable maritime energy transition.
Lloyd’s Register Group is wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a politically and financially independent global charity that promotes safety and education.
About Vard: VARD is one of the world's leading designers and shipbuilders of specialized vessels providing unique "one stop shop" solutions for marine industries including offshore, renewable energy, navy, fishery, and cruise. Headquartered in Norway and with approximately 7,000 employees, VARD operates shipbuilding facilities in Norway, Romania, Brazil, and Vietnam. Through its specialized subsidiaries VARD provides fully integrated ship design, shipbuilding and equipment solutions to the global maritime industry including power and automation systems, deck handling equipment, and vessel accommodation.
VARD is driven by a clear purpose to drive the transition to zero emission emission ships. This is made possible through VARD’s long shipbuilding traditions and strong customer relationships. Combining cutting-edge innovation and technology with global operations to enable the next generation of low and zero emission vessels.
FINCANTIERI S.p.A. based in Trieste, Italy, is VARD's indirect major shareholder and controls 98 percent of the shares. FINCANTIERI is one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups, and a global leader in cruise ship design and reference player in all high-tech shipbuilding industry sectors. With over 230 years of history and more than 7,000 ships built, the Group today has a production network of 18 shipyards operating in four continents and over 20,000 employees.
About North Star: North Star is the market leading UK provider of mission critical, offshore infrastructure support services to offshore wind and offshore oil and gas markets.
The firm has bases in Aberdeen, Lowestoft, Newcastle and Hamburg, employs 1,300 crew and onshore personnel, and has been supporting the energy sector for the past four decades. Its offshore infrastructure support vessel fleet boasts 42 assets and provides continuous αround the clock support services to more than 50 North Sea installations.
The company’s first two Service Operations Vessels (SOVs), the Grampian Tyne and flagship Grampian Derwent were delivered this summer (2023). A further two are under construction and all four are under charter for a 10-year minimum in the North Sea. The business has also invested in its first two of up to four Commissioning SOVs to support the growing European offshore wind market.
The 135-year-old business, which was originally established to support the fisheries industry, is also the country’s largest employer of offshore cadets. Since 1996, it has trained hundreds of future deck and engineering trainees, investing £1million annually on average to develop the next generation.
By combining safety, service and quality, the company delivers exceptional levels of support to its clients in one of world’s most challenging and demanding industries.
Image: ‘North Star’s first two Vard built CSOVs to be classified by Lloyd’s Register’
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