ESVAGT increases presence in dynamic offshore wind market

With the newbuilding ‘Esvagt Dana’, ESVAGT aims straight for the dynamic market for SOV vessels.

When the ‘Esvagt Dana’ entered into contract with Vattenfall on the Horns Rev III wind farm in the middle of February, it was on an atypically short Service Operation Vessel (SOV) contract.

All of ESVAGT’s other SOVs that currently service the offshore wind farms in the North Sea and the Baltic are built for long-term contracts for a specific task in a fixed area.

The ‘Esvagt Dana’ is a pattern breaker:

‘The choice of SOV vessels available for short contracts is very limited’, says Ib Hansen, Head of Commercial at ESVAGT:

‘We see that there is potential in offering an SOV with ESVAGT’s competences and concept to a market that is more dynamic’, he evaluates.

Fast and efficient

With the ‘Esvagt Dana’, ESVAGT offers a newly built SOV that is tremendously adaptable and able to perform a wide range of tasks. The 'Esvagt Dana’ has a Walk-to-Work system, boat transfer with ESVAGT’s STB12 transfer boat, and a centrally placed crane – all elements that have already resulted in positive operational experience:

‘Vattenfall and the crew deserve some credit for taking advantage of the vessel’s many possibilities in order to drive a safe and efficient operation, where you really get work done’, says Ib Hansen:

‘The vessel has a centrally placed crane which can operate towards both sides, and the gangway system can similarly operate from both port and starboard. This presents potential for much faster tempering and streamlining of both transfers of cargo and of personnel without compromising safety. The client and crew have succeeded in taking advantage of this potential’, adds Ib Hansen.

Good conditions on board

A contributing factor to the efficient operation is an increased utilisation of the STB12. It is used for both ordinary transfers and for those transfers where the gangway system isn’t usable.

‘For example, if the weather is foggy, thus hindering us in approaching the wind turbine by vessel, or if we cannot use the Walk-to-Work system due to work on the wind turbine, our STB12 can thankfully do the job. This has supported making the entire operation highly efficient’, says Ib Hansen.

The vessel also delivers an outstanding performance outside working hours. According to Captain Viggo Hvidberg, accommodation on board engenders a positive response, particularly as the ‘Esvagt Dana’s 76 single cabins enables the vessel to house a high number of technicians and specialists in a comfortable manner:

‘Day-to-day work is flawless. We are often praised for our accommodation with the single cabins and en suite bathrooms. Anyone who has tried working shifts with hot bedding knows that this is a real bonus. Not least when particularly bad weather prevents us from working on the wind turbines’, says Viggo Hvidberg.