Louis Dreyfus Armateurs' subsidiary, LD Tide, has won a contract to provide a crew transfer vessel (CTV) for the Îles d'Yeu and Noirmoutier (EMYN) offshore wind farm project, located off the coast of France.
The company will supply a 24-passenger vessel for operations and maintenance services at the 488MW Eoliennes en Mer des Îles d'Yeu et de Noirmoutier, a project being developed by a consortium led by Ocean Winds. Siemens Gamesa, the turbine supplier for the wind farm, selected LD Tide after an international call for tenders.
The new StratCat 27 vessel is scheduled to begin operations in mid-2025. It will be responsible for the safe transfer of maintenance technicians to the offshore wind farm, ensuring the continued operation of the project.
Gaël Cailleaux, managing director of renewables at Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, expressed enthusiasm about the contract, stating, “We are very pleased to strengthen our collaboration with Siemens Gamesa, a market leader in the renewable energy field.”
This contract marks the second partnership between LD Tide and Siemens Gamesa, following the delivery of a similar vessel, Acti'vent, for the Fécamp Offshore Wind Farm in October 2023.
The StratCat 27 is one of two CTVs currently being constructed by Strategic Marine, a shipbuilder based in Singapore. LD Tide recently placed an order for two more vessels to meet the growing demand of the rapidly expanding French offshore wind sector.
With a capacity to carry 24 passengers and three crew members, the StratCat 27 vessel is designed for safety, high performance, and comfort. It is expected to provide a robust platform for offshore operations in demanding conditions.
The EMYN wind farm, which will feature 61 Siemens Gamesa turbines, each rated at 8MW, is expected to generate 1,900 GWh annually, enough to supply the electricity needs of approximately 800,000 people.
