North Star Makes Grand Entrance into Offshore Wind with Dogger Bank

Aberdeen-based company North Star Renewables has won the tender for the delivery of three service operation vessels (SOVs) for the 3.6 GW Dogger Bank project, which is set to become the world’s biggest offshore wind farm.

Under a contract worth approximately GBP 270 million (around € 316 million), the Scottish company is responsible for the design and delivery of the three SOVs, which will be handed over to Dogger Bank Wind Farm operator Equinor starting in the summer of 2023. The vessels will be chartered to Dogger Bank for a ten-year period, with an option for three one-year extensions.

One SOV, due to be delivered in January 2024, will be used for scheduled maintenance at Dogger Bank A and B, and will also serve Dogger Bank C once it enters operation. Two SOVs – one of which is scheduled to be delivered in July 2023 and the other one in July 2024 – will be used for corrective maintenance at Dogger Bank A and B. A further contract for an SOV to be used for corrective maintenance at Dogger Bank C will be awarded at a later stage.

In support of the contract for the Dogger Bank offshore wind project, North Star will establish a new permanent base at Port of Tyne.

The company, which owns and operates emergency response and rescue vessels (ERRVs) in the North Sea, revealed its plans to enter the offshore wind market in 2020, when it also set up North Star Renewables. The contract for the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm is the first for North Star in the renewable energy sector.

Source: World Maritime News