Offshore wind service company Edda Wind has taken delivery of its first commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV), a vessel designed to operate on hydrogen propulsion
The hydrogen-ready vessel, Edda Breeze, is the first delivered as part of a nine-ship newbuilding programme. The CSOV is due to start a 10-year contract with Ocean Breeze at the Bard Offshore 1 windfarm in Germany in August 2022.
Edda Wind chief executive Kenneth Walland said, “Delivery ofEdda Breezemarks the start of deliveries for our newbuilding programme of nine vessels, but more important is the fact that we have already secured long-term contracts for the first four newbuilds. Hence, each vessel delivery means increased revenues and improved profitability.”
Edda Breezewas designed with flexibility and operability to enable it to service windfarms worldwide. The vessel is also prepared for zero-emission operation with hydrogen as an energy carrier, with the hydrogen stored in a liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC).
Edda Wind adopted this concept as it meets the company’s strict criteria for safe operation, logistic solutions and endurance. For example, it says, this way of handling hydrogen on board avoids exposure to the safety risks that exist for some other green fuel solutions.
“Edda Breezeis the first CSOV in the world prepared with a hydrogen-based energy system planned for four-week endurance,” said Mr Walland. “In principle, this means that, a few years from now, the vessel is capable of supporting the construction and commissioning of windfarms without generating carbon emissions.”
Edda Breezeis a Salt 0217 design from Salt Ship Design in Norway and built by Astilleros Gondán shipyard in Spain, the same yard that deliveredEdda PassatandEdda Mistralin 2018. The new vessel is 88.3 m long with a beam of 19.7 m. It can accommodate up to 120 persons onboard.
In addition toEdda Breezeand the eight other vessels on order – six CSOVs and two service operation vessels (SOVs) – currently on order, Edda Wind owns and operates two SOVs,Edda PassatandEdda Mistral. The two latter vessels are both on charters with Ørsted on windfarms offshore the UK. In addition, Edda Wind operates one chartered-in frontrunner vessel, Edda Fjord.Edda Fjordcommenced work for Ocean Breeze in April 2021 and will operate until replaced byEdda Breeze.
“Operators are continuously looking for ways to improve the efficiency of windfarm operations and reduce operating costs and environmental footprint,” said Mr Walland. “Our specially designed offshore wind service vessels provide exactly this. We expect demand for specialized service vessels to improve and we are well-positioned to capitalize on this trend.”
