Vard has been awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) from Lloyd’s Register (LR) for the methanol fuelling system for two Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) under construction for North Star.
According to Vard, with this AiP, the two ships will be among the first prepared for conversion to green fuels in the wind market. The CSOVs are of Vard 4 22 design tailored for the UK infrastructure support vessel operator, with new methanol-ready hybrid propulsion solutions.
Vard 4 22 is Vard’s first methanol ready project, and since the contract was signed between North Star and Vard in May 2023, the two companies have collaborated with LR to gain the approval for methanol as fuel for the vessels. The approval has been through two levels of risk analysis and adjustment of the design to enable the future use of methanol as a fuel.
The ships have a high degree of preparation for the conversion and can be transitioned to methanol in line with the engine manufacturers scheduled release of the conversion kit. With this, the Vard 4 22s will be two of the first vessels in the wind market able to operate on green fuels.
Thomas Brathaug, Vard VP Project Management said: “This is an important step for Vard in our continuous work to lead the technological and green transition. With this approval in principle, we are assuring that we stay relevant in the market, meeting current and future needs from our customers.”
North Star CTO James Bradford added: “Our commitment to methanol-ready vessels is essential in future-proofing North Star’s fleet for the low-carbon transition in offshore wind operations. This AiP from Lloyd’s Register validates the robust design approach we’ve taken alongside Vard and prepares us to adopt green fuel technologies as available, aligning with our sustainability goals and the evolving needs of the renewables market.”
Mark Darley, LR COO, said: “The maritime industry is making significant progress towards the widespread adoption of zero-carbon fuels. We are delighted to collaborate with North Star and Vard in advancing new technologies for emission reduction and highlighting the Norwegian maritime cluster’s expertise and ambition. We are committed to supporting the industry’s safe and sustainable shift to zero and near-zero carbon fuels and ensuring this innovative project prioritises safety, reliability and sustainability.”
North Star’s and Vard 4 22 designs have been tailored for accessibility to enable commissioning and maintenance operations to the offshore wind industry. The ships are produced in close collaboration with Vard Design in Ålesund, Norway. They feature the latest hull design optimised for low fuel consumption and resistance, as well as high operability and comfort.
The 95m CSOVs will be equipped with technology from Vard Electro’s flexible SeaQ portfolio, covering solutions for power, control, bridge and navigation, and communication. The SeaQ package uses battery technology for hybrid operations, the SeaQ delivery facilitating smarter and more energy-efficient operations for reduced emissions and fuel consumption.
Image: Vard 2 22 CSOV for North Star (source: Vard)
