On September 10, Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), together with China Shipbuilding Trading Co., Ltd. (CSTC) and Cyprus-based Schoeller Holdings Group, successfully signed a contract for the construction of four 120-person wind power construction commissioning service operation vessels (C-CSOVs) in Guangzhou, China.
The contracted C-CSOV is a high-end offshore vessel that meets the high comfort requirements of DNV COMF (C2, V2). The vessel is equipped with a 1,000KWh power battery system and DP-2 power positioning system, and its main operating equipment includes a 50-ton active wave-compensated offshore crane and a 30-meter high 3D wave-compensated lifting gangway.
Schoeller Holdings Group is a well-known ship owner in Europe, specializing in container ships, multi-purpose vessels and handysize tanker fleet, and is a quality customer and old friend of Huangpu Wenchong.
This is the first time that the shipowner placed an order for this type of vessel, which is an important step to broaden its business field and strategic layout.
Upon completion and delivery, the C-CSOVs will be commercially operated by Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt (D.O.S.), a German company, which will undertake offshore wind project maintenance and other subsea construction and other energy markets worldwide.
Since the two sides started to build 1700 TEU container ships in 2006, they have been cooperating on 1900 TEU, 2700 TEU, 2800 TEU container ships and 32,000 tons multi-purpose heavy lift ship projects, totaling more than 30 ships.
The signing of the four wind power operation and maintenance vessels marks the fruitful cooperation between the two sides for nearly 20 years, and also represents the opening of a new chapter in the cooperation between the two sides.
“The energy market is desperate for new players and more ships. We will charter out the C-CSOVs worldwide, both on the spot market and for long-term contracts of up to 15 years,” said Philipp Maracke, Managing Partner of Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt, who founded the company together with Johannes Wolters, who acts also as managing partner.
“By combining a modified layout with modularity, we have created a vessel that is attractive for a wide range of customers without having to make compromises in the offshore wind market,” added Wolters.