MHI Vestas and ESVAGT enter into another SOV contract

Another ESVAGT Service Operation Vessel (SOV) for offshore wind farms is on its way to MHI Vestas. The vessel will service the offshore wind farm, the Moray East, in the UK from 2021.

The partnership between MHI Vestas and ESVAGT continues with another new build SOV for delivery at the start of 2021, bringing the number of wind vessels on contract to MHI Vestas to five in 2021.

ESVAGT and MHI Vestas have been working together since 2008. The past year, the 'Esvagt Mercator' has been servicing MHI Vestas in the offshore wind farms, Nobelwind and Belwind, in Belgium, and in August 2019, a newly built SOV will enter into a 15 year contract with MHI Vestas in the Deutsche Bucht Wind Farm in Germany.

In September 2018, MHI Vestas and ESVAGT signed contracts for the delivery of two new SOVs for the Borssele III-IV parks (NL) and Triton Knoll (UK) and announced that there was also an option on a third vessel. This is the option that is now being acted on, making it the fifth new build contract for SOVs between the two parties. From 2021 and for the following 15 years, a new build SOV will service the offshore wind farm, the Moray East, in the UK sector.

“It has been an exciting process to develop the concepts around the vessels, so they can give our technicians the optimal conditions to service the turbines whilst finding a balance to ensure a cost efficient vessel operation. With ESVAGT we have, over the years, developed a collaborative approach where no one is looking at the colour of the work wear, but everyone is working together to make our operation much more efficient and competitive”, says Keld Kristensen, Marine Specialist, Marine Engineering and Offshore Logistics for MHI Vestas Offshore.

Tailor made vessel

"We are glad that we have created an even closer and more productive partnership with MHI Vestas with a tailor made solution. This reinforces our position in the market and shows that MHI Vestas appreciates how to take full advantage of all the possibilities that ESVAGT's unique SOV concept brings," says Søren Karas, Chief Commercial Officer for ESVAGT.

ESVAGT designs and builds vessels together with Norwegian Havyard Ship Technology. The vessel destined for Moray East will be a 70 metre SOV in Havyard’s 831L design, just like the other two vessels. The Havyard 831L design combines customer’s requests and needs in an optimal and cost efficient solution. The vessel is equipped with ESVAGT’s unique Safe Transfer Boats, the STB12 and STB7; has room for up to 60 people on board and is equipped with a Walk-to-Work walkway.

The vessel for Moray East is expected to be ready for charter in February 2021.