Lloyd’s Register (LR) has secured a contract to class two methanol-ready Commissioning Service Operations Vessels (CSOVs) for North Star, the UK’s leading offshore infrastructure support vessel operator. The vessels are being constructed by VARD, a global leader in the design and building of specialised ships.
The addition of these CSOVs will bolster North Star’s offshore wind capabilities, aligning with the company’s goal to add 40 hybrid-powered Service Operations Vessels (SOVs) to its fleet by 2040. These vessels will play a pivotal role in commissioning and maintenance activities crucial for the operational efficiency of offshore wind farms. In addition to serving as logistics hubs and warehouses, the ships will offer high-comfort accommodation for in-field technicians.
The CSOVs will feature VARD’s unique 4 22 design, incorporating a methanol-ready hybrid-propulsion system and a hull optimised for low fuel consumption and resistance. The hulls will be constructed at Vard Braila in Romania and will subsequently be towed to Vard Langsten in Norway for outfitting. The vessels are slated for delivery in Spring 2025.
Michael North, Lloyd’s Register Commercial Manager for Norway and Iceland, commented: “The build, design and delivery of these two methanol-ready vessels will represent a positive forward step for the maritime energy transition, and LR is looking forward to providing continued support to Vard and the Norwegian shipbuilding industry.”
This project builds on LR’s ongoing work in Norway focused on the delivery of alternative-fuelled vessels. In 2022, LR awarded Approval in Principle to Norwegian ship owner Egil Ulvan Rederi for its zero-emissions bulk carrier, With Orca, which won the Motorship Award in 2022. LR was also involved in the Torghatten Nord project to provide a hydrogen ferry for Norway’s Vestfjorden route.
James Bradford, North Star’s Chief Technology Officer, said: “Ensuring that we drive down emissions is critical to our long-term goals. Having these assets delivered methanol-ready will allow us to decarbonise our service offering to our client base and, in particular, our European clients who will face carbon taxation challenges in the near future.”
The contract marks a significant milestone in the maritime industry’s transition to cleaner fuels and underscores the collaborative efforts of key stakeholders in advancing sustainability goals.
