OFFSHORE RENEWABLES

Another strategic option taken by Njord

13 years ago

Australia and Asia based specialist shipbuilder Strategic Marine has had UK crew transfer vessel operator Njord Offshore confirm an option for two more windfarm crew transfer and service vessels.

With the European offshore windfarm sector growing quickly, the new option will take Njord Offshore’s total order to eight vessels.

Tom Mehew of Njord Offshore said: “The details of the design combined with the excellent build quality of our 21m crew transfer vessels has been fantastically received by all our crew and charterers.”

Thus far, Strategic has delivered six vessels to Njord Offshore. The first, Njord Advocet, completed its maiden charter on the Greater Gabbard Windfarm for SSE and will join sister vessels off Germany. Njord Kittiwake is now working off Denmark and Njord Curlew and Njord Lapwing off Germany. The Njord Puffin and Njord Petrel were delivered last month at Strategic’s shipyard in Singapore and have just arrived in Europe. The Njord Puffin will go straight onto charter in Germany, whilst the Njord Petrel was still available for charter at the start of this month.

All the Njord vessels are designed by BMT to DNV and MCA flag regulations, ensuring the vessels can operate without restriction anywhere off the European mainland.

“We understand the performance of the vessels has exceeded expectations, demonstrating market leading fuel economy”, said BMT’s technical director, Ed Dudson.

The two new sister vessels ordered will be certified for MCA CAT 1 requirements for operation up to (150nm) from CAT 2 due to the distance from shore the vessels are being required to work at. The vessels will also be given increased fuel tank capacity from 10,000 litres to 18,000 litres for greater range and bunkering capability.

Separately, Strategic’s shipyards in both Singapore and Vietnam are busy with a number of projects including eighteen 40m Crewboats, two 45m ROPAX ferries for the National Ferries Company in Oman, and an offshore support vessel for the Australian Customs.

“We are full steam ahead on newbuild projects, said Strategic’s executive director Ron Anderson, “and we are driving forward our ‘off the shelf’ inventory of in-demand vessels to reduce client waiting times.”