North Star has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with key industry partners to form a working group aimed at advancing the design and testing of a new service operation vessel (SOV) concept tailored for floating offshore wind farms. The collaboration includes MO4, Principle Power, SMST, VARD, and Voith Group, and focuses on delivering high-performance ships for commercial-scale floating wind projects, including the 17GW of projects awarded in Scotland's ScotWind leasing round.
The initiative addresses logistical and operational challenges unique to floating offshore wind farms, where both turbines and vessels operate in dynamic conditions. North Star will lead the design process, ensuring that service and operational needs are fully integrated into the new vessel's development.
Key partners will contribute expertise in various areas. MO4 will assess the SOV's workability, focusing on vessel motion and gangway performance. Principle Power will provide data from its experience with WindFloat platforms to optimize the vessel for operations like inspection and maintenance. SMST will design gangway technology for safe personnel transfers, while VARD will integrate all inputs into a cohesive ship design. Voith Group will provide propulsion solutions to maintain stability in challenging environments.
Andrew Duncan, North Star's Renewables & Innovations Director, said, “Our goal is to create an innovative, best-in-class ship design that supports the rapid expansion of floating wind technology. By pushing the boundaries of what's possible, we can ensure that our future SOVs deliver the highest levels of safety, efficiency, and operational flexibility.”
The project will undergo rigorous workability assessments before implementation in future floating wind projects, aiming to set a new industry standard for safety, performance, and efficiency.
