The Aberdeen-based company has won a £270m-big contract for the design and delivery of three hybrid service operation vessels (SOVs) which will work around the world's biggest (3.6 GW) offshore wind farm.

Dogger Bank, which is going to be built in three 1.2 GW-strong phases (A, B, and C), is scheduled for completion in 2026.

North Star will deliver one SOV to be used for scheduled maintenance at Dogger Bank A and B. The vessel is due to be delivered in January 2024 and will also serve Dogger Bank C when this phase of the wind farm is operational.

The two other SOVs will be used for corrective maintenance, at Dogger Bank A and Dogger Bank B. Delivery of these vessels is scheduled for July 2023 and July 2024, respectively.

A further contract for an SOV to be used for corrective maintenance at Dogger Bank C will be awarded at a later stage.

The Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be located more than 130 km off the Yorkshire coast and will generate enough renewable energy to power six million UK homes. It's a joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor, and Eni, with the Scotland-headquartered SSE Renewables leading on construction and delivery, while Equinor will operate the wind farm upon completion.

The SOVs will be chartered to Dogger Bank by North Star for a ten-year period, with an option for three one-year extensions.

Wind farm engineers and technicians will spend two weeks on board each of the vessels while working on the offshore wind farm. The SOVs will incorporate logistics platforms to allow the personnel to work on the wind farm during the day, featuring safe, hotel-grade comfort in the living quarters for operational personnel at all other times.

The Port of Tyne has been selected as the operation base for the wind farm. Consequently, North Star will establish a new permanent presence at the English seaport. The company will create 130 new full-time UK-based jobs in crewing and shore-based roles for the lifetime of the contract.

"We are pleased and proud to establish a new relationship with Equinor and are looking forward to working collaboratively with them and their partners, SSE Renewables and Eni. We have been working with our existing energy clients in the North Sea for over 40 years, with an outstanding reputation for delivering and operating offshore emergency support vessels safely. We are now committed to building on the momentum of this contract award to further our diversification and firmly establish ourselves at the forefront of vessel design and delivery in the global renewables market," Matthew Gordon, Chief Executive, North Star, commented.

Photo: North Star Renewables