UK-based offshore wind crew transfer vessel operator Njord Offshore Ltd will be managing a new purpose built 35-m Service Accommodation and Transfer Vessel (SATV) on long term charter to Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S for Formosa 1 offshore wind power plant in Taiwan.
Siemens Gamesa will have 22 of its offshore wind turbines installed in the Formosa 1 offshore wind power plant when completed: two units of the SWT-4.0-130 wind turbine, and 20 units of the SWT-6.0-154 wind turbine.
The wind park is located about six kilometres off the west coast of Miaoli County. The SATV will be operated from the port of Taichung for the operations and maintenance phase of the wind power plant commencing in the fourth quarter of 2019.
The vessel is capable of staying offshore for at least seven days and offers 12 single cabins for the industrial personnel. The vessel will be registered under the Taiwan Flag and manned by Taiwanese crew that are trained by Njord Offshore’s experienced masters.
Tom Mehew, Managing Director of Njord Offshore said: “The award of the SATV contract marks a significant milestone in expanding our footprint in the offshore wind market. The SATV offers a new logistical model which will enable technicians to be accommodated offshore and also transfer directly onto the turbines like our existing crew transfer vessels without the need for an expensive gangway system which will ultimately save time and money for our client."
"This charter is an exciting opportunity to leverage our existing offshore wind experience and combine it with our Asian partner’s locality, workforce and language skills. We are looking forward to working alongside Siemens Gamesa and will be supporting localisation in Taiwan,” he added.
“With the SATV, we’re offering a new offshore wind service solution which demonstrates our commitment to meeting our customers’ needs and reducing the cost of energy from offshore wind power. The vessel concept fits the bill perfectly for projects like Formosa 1: a full 40-person Service Operation Vessel would be oversized, and standard Crew Transfer Vessels which must sail in to port every night would be undersized. The SATV also allows us to safely and efficiently make the most of the challenging tidal conditions that are found in the Taiwan Strait,” states Rene Wigmans, Head of Maritime and Aviation Solutions, from the Siemens Gamesa Service Business Unit.