Vard has signed a contract for the design and construction of two Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) for the UK-based Purus Wind.

The hull for the first vessel will be built in Vard in Romania for outfitting, commissioning, and delivery from one of Vard’s yards in Norway. The second vessel will be built at Vard Vung Tau in Vietnam.

The first vessel will be delivered in the second quarter of 2025, while the second one is planned to be delivered in the second quarter of 2026.

The two CSOVs are of VARD 4 19 design by Vard Design in Ålesund, Norway. Together with Purus Wind, the design is upgraded, and tailor-made to give environmental benefits with a hull design optimised for low fuel consumption and resistance, as well as high operatiblity and comfort, said Vard.

The battery-hybrid system prepares the 87-metre long vessels to run with zero emissions for periods while being also prepared for charging at sea so they can be connected to the power grid in the wind farm/harbor to charge batteries regularly without having to go ashore.

The design is also prepared for future operation on methanol, providing an additional sustainable option to the operation.

The project is awarded funding by the Norwegian Government’s Green Platform Initiative.

The vessels will be equipped with VARD daughter SEAONICS’ Electric Controlled Motion Compensated (ECMC) crane which should keep the load close to the crane tip from the deck level to the transition piece (TP) platform.

The walk-to-work system will be able to work with stepless access in a range from 15 to 30 metres above sea and is suitable for both personnel and cargo transfer.

The agreement also has an option for two additional vessels.