Ulstein Design & Solutions has signed a contract with Tersan Shipyard for two methanol-fuelled Ulstein SX216 Construction Service Operating Vessel (CSOV) designs, to be built for the Netherlands-based ship owner Acta Marine and join two other Twin X-Stern vessels in the Acta fleet.
Acta Marine has already signed a long-term contract for a 12-year basis with RWE for the two vessels to support North Sea wind farms. The vessels are expected to begin operation from the Port of Grimsby in early 2025 and 2026.
The Twin X-Stern vessels have two sterns and two main propeller units at each end. Placing either end towards the weather results in excellent operability without limitation on vessel speed. The Twin X-Stern solution leads to improved fuel efficiency whilst reducing motion, which is important for technicians who need quality rest to perform safe operations. The Twin X-Stern offers flexibility regarding the choice of propeller type, a bi-symmetric hull shape and propulsion setup with fewer propulsion units is possible.
The hybrid power solution in these vessels, with green methanol intended as the main energy source, has dual-fuel engines supported by a battery package. The system integration allows the most fuel-efficient modes of operation. Combining the fuel-efficient Twin X-Stern and the dual-fuel methanol/diesel power generators will help reduce the emissions in offshore wind farm operations.
Sakir Erdoğan, Tersan Shipyard Business Development and Marketing Director, said: “We as Tersan Shipyard have ensured a really good start of cooperation with Ulstein Design and gained an effective experience with the first two Acta Marine vessels. Ulstein’s innovative design solutions on Acta Marine vessels also correspond perfectly with the substantial experience of Tersan Shipyard among different kinds of vessels.”
Rob Boer, MD Acta Marine said: “We are excited to announce the order of two more Ulstein-designed SX216 SOVs. These vessels represent the culmination of extensive research by Acta Marine in combination with Ulstein’s engineering excellence. With the vessel’s advanced features and cutting-edge technology, they will play a pivotal role in supporting the TK and Sofia projects for RWE, providing efficient and reliable services while minimizing environmental impact.”
Rolf-Petter Almli, Ulstein Design & Solutions said: “Ulstein’s vision is to create tomorrow’s solutions for sustainable marine operations. Through our dedication to innovation, application of expertise and commitment to quality, we give our customers added value. Acta Marine is strongly committed to reducing its carbon footprint, and these CSOVs fit in their timeline towards their goal of a 70 per cent reduction in net CO2 emissions. Achieving a low carbon or zero emission shipping industry in the future, we must act whilst in the design phase of the vessels. Therefore, we worked with Acta Marine to evaluate the best possible fuel alternatives. Methanol’s energy density and storage are favourable, it is an accessible energy source, and dual-fuel engines that can handle both methanol and diesel are available in the market. As soon as methanol had been chosen as an alternative energy source, Ulstein Design & Solutions started to adapt the design, implementing the methanol bunkering, tank and system layouts on a conceptual level.”
The offshore wind service vessel designs from Ulstein have been developed to effectively support the commissioning, operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms.
The SX216 vessel has a length of 89,9m, a beam of 19,2m and accommodates up to 135 personnel. It has a walk-to-work (W2W) motion-compensated gangway for safe personnel transfer to the turbines, a 3D-motion-compensated crane for cargo transfer, and can carry a daughter craft for in-farm transfers.
