ZPMC shipyard of China and Ulstein Design & Solutions have signed a ship design contract on two types of Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) for Shanghai Electric Windpower Group, which will be the first purpose-designed SOVs for the Chinese Offshore Wind industry.
The project contains two different designs, both with the Ulstein X-Bow and X-Stern. With accommodation for 60 and 100 personnel respectively, these designs will enable owner Shanghai Electric to provide efficient and robust operation and maintenance service to the end customers. Both designs will focus on optimising operational capacity, capability and economy. With batteries installed, the vessels will provide a greener footprint when servicing the renewable energy segment.
Ma Chengbin, GM Engineering Service, Shanghai Electric, said: “The choice for Ulstein design has been based on their market leadership, proven track record and local presence. During the process of developing these concepts, Ulstein is dedicated with their professionalism and expertise. Close collaborations among Ulstein, the yard ZPMC and Shanghai Electric have set a strong foundation for the projects. Shanghai Electric is the leading provider of offshore wind turbines in China, and with these two world-class SOVs, we believe we can bring more values to our clients and provide a safer working environment to our colleagues at sea.”
With more than 50% market share, Shanghai Electric is the largest offshore wind turbine supplier in China and is also a large integrated equipment manufacturing enterprise.
MD Runar Muren, Ulstein Design & Solutions, said: “We are proud to announce this important milestone together with Shanghai Electric and ZPMC. The cooperation with the ZPMC shipyard goes back to 2012 when the Ulstein DLS 4200 heavy-lift vessel design was constructed there, and currently, the JSD 6000 project, another Ulstein heavy lift vessel design, is in good progress at this yard. We are looking forward to the cooperation with ZPMC and Shanghai Electric. It’s grateful to be part of this breakthrough project. Together we are committed to transforming innovation into safer, greener and more sustainable operations.”
The usage of SOVs will significantly improve the efficiency of service operations at offshore wind farms in China, including the stages of construction support and O&M. The two designs will be reliable and environmentally friendly platforms and comfortable workplaces at sea. Consideration has been taken in order to provide technicians with safe and stepless access from the vessel to the wind turbines and ensure sufficient storage and well-organised logistics onboard the vessels.
Johannes Røren, MD Ulstein Marine Service, said: “We are honoured to be selected by Shanghai Electric and ZPMC to design the first SOVs in China. These will be a part of a new standard for future O&M operations in China. We have been working very closely with the clients and our colleagues in Norway and will continue to further develop the Chinese offshore wind industry.”
This contract marks Ulstein’s entry into the Chinese offshore wind market after the first dedicated offshore wind support vessel (Siem Moxie, now Seaway Moxie) made her entry into the European market in 2014. Ulstein has, in the years thereafter, designed and built several other O&M vessels for the European offshore wind market. Ulstein has also developed Jones Act compliant O&M vessel designs for the US market.
