The order from the Norwegian company of the Fincantieri group is worth between 100 and 200 million euros. Each ship will be 87.5 meters long, 19.5 meters wide, and can accommodate 120 people on board.
Trieste – New order for Vard. The Norwegian subsidiary of the Fincantieri group has signed a contract with North Star, the largest shipowner-operator in the United Kingdom, for the design and construction of two hybrid Service Operation Vessels (SOVs). The order further strengthens the partnership between the two companies, confirming their joint commitment to sustainable innovation in the maritime sector. The value of the agreement is described as “large,” meaning between 100 and 200 million euros. These are the ninth and tenth units ordered by North Star from Vard, following previous orders for four SOVs, two Construction Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs), and two Vard Design units built at an external shipyard.
The new units will be developed by Vard Design in Alesund, Norway, using the proven Vard 4 19 platform, designed for offshore wind farm operations. Each ship will have a length of 87.5 meters, a width of 19.5 meters, and can accommodate up to 120 people on board. The units will be equipped with a hybrid battery propulsion system and prepared for future conversion to methanol fuel.
Onboard features include a motion-compensated and height-adjustable walkway integrated with an elevator, a personnel transfer system for safe crew transfers, and advanced energy management solutions. Vard Electro will supply the integrated SeaQ package, which combines power, control, bridge, and communication systems.
The hull of the first unit will be built at the Vard shipyard in Romania – Braila, followed by final outfitting and delivery at one of the group’s Norwegian shipyards, scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2027. The second unit will be entirely built and delivered by the Vard Vung Tau shipyard in Vietnam, with delivery expected in the fourth quarter of 2028. North Star owns the largest fully British-owned fleet operating in the North Sea. The company has announced its commitment to delivering 40 hybrid offshore units for the wind sector by 2040.
North Star was acquired in 2022 by Partners Group on behalf of its clients.
