The 70-meter-long vessel developed by Damen is equipped with a 4 MW charger and utilizes a motion compensation gangway to connect with wind turbines.
Damen Shipyards has introduced the Service Operation Vessel (SOV), which operates entirely on electric power and features offshore charging capabilities. This announcement was made on November 28 at the Offshore Energy 2023 conference and exhibition in Amsterdam, according to Offshore Energy. According to the company, the SOV 7017 E will pave the way for a significant reduction in emissions from the maintenance of offshore wind farms.
The SOV 7017 E can charge directly from wind turbines. (Photo: Damen Shipyards Group).
The vessel is 70 meters long and 17 meters wide, featuring 60 cabins that provide accommodation for the crew and 40 technicians, along with storage space and workshops. The SOV 7017 E is equipped with four azimuth thrusters, offering independent thrust in all directions and significantly reducing underwater noise.
When designing the vessel three years ago, the company focused on offshore charging capabilities. Damen collaborated with MJR Power & Automation, a UK company that previously developed offshore charging systems for personnel transport vessels. The result is a charging system that uses a motion compensation gangway to connect the vessel with either a wind turbine or an offshore substation. The gangway is controlled from the bridge, eliminating the need for manual interaction with the charging equipment. The entire system utilizes existing offshore infrastructure, thus no redesign or additional components are necessary for the wind farm.
The charging process occurs while the vessel is in a power-saving mode called “green DP” and takes only a few hours via a wind turbine. The system is designed to international safety standards, particularly meeting regulations in the UK and Norway. MJR has developed a 4 MW charger for the 70-meter vessel. The company is also constructing a larger 8 MW version, capable of charging a 90-meter vessel.
The SOV 7017 E is equipped with a 15 MWh battery, sufficient for the vessel to operate for a full day. This battery is a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) type, which is more sustainable than the lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) type, helping to limit fire hazards.
