Hydrogen-powered CSOVs ordered

Offshore personnel transfer company Windcat has ordered a series of hydrogen-powered Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) from Damen Shipyards.

The “Elevation Series” CSOVs have been designed by Damen Shipyards in cooperation with Windcat and CMB.TECH. The vessels are 87 m. long, 20 m. wide, can accommodate 120 people on board and will be powered by hydrogen. The series will be delivered from 2025.

Windcat and CMB.TECH will provide the same dual fuel hydrogen technology for the Elevation Series as on board of the Hydrocat, the world’s first hydrogen powered CTV (Crew Transfer Vessel). The Hydrocat is powered by two MAN D2862 LE488 engines with fuel tanks that can store 207 kg of hydrogen.

The CSOVs will be built at Ha Long Shipyard, Vietnam, and will be delivered to Windcat Offshore, a new business unit within Windcat, which will focus on offshore energy commissioning and services. Initially, two vessels have been ordered with options for further vessels. A CSOV is a vessel that remains in an offshore wind farm for up to 30 days, providing maintenance materials and housing technicians.

Windcat, Europe’s market-leading offshore personnel transfer company is pleased to announce an order for the construction of a series of hydrogen-powered Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (“CSOVs”), with Damen Shipyards, a global provider of maritime solutions. (Image: Damen Shipyards)

“Damen is committed to becoming the world’s most sustainable shipbuilder and is a recognized pioneer in the development of Service Operation Vessels, having designed and built one of the world’s first dedicated walk-to-work vessels 5 years ago,” said Joost van der Weiden, sales manager Benelux at Damen Shipyards. “These vessels have set a benchmark in the offshore renewables market and are still performing very well in the North Sea. We are proud to work together with Windcat and CMB.TECH to build these vessels and make the groundbreaking design of the Windcat Elevation Series come to life.”

The Elevation Series will be equipped with the latest gangway, crane, thrusters, hybrid battery technology and offshore charging capability, among other industry-leading features to be announced in the next weeks. Windcat believes these vessels are the next logical step in the fast-growing offshore wind energy sector.

“I truly believe the Elevation Series is an industry-leading design, a real game changer,” said Stephen Bolton, managing director Windcat Offshore. “A design that will lead the sector in exploring hydrogen as a fuel while delivering best-in-class performance and flexibility. Only with the combined team of Windcat, CMB.TECH and Damen has this been possible. Together we have addressed the current and future CSOV sector needs while starting to answer the greater maritime industry’s challenge: how to significantly reduce our industry’s greenhouse gas emissions.”