On February 25, India’s Cochin Shipyard held a steel cutting ceremony for a hybrid service operating vessel (SOV) being built for North Star Shipping (UK).
The SOV is the first of two SOVs being built by Cochin Shipyard for North Star Shipping, designed by VARD of Norway.
The vessel is of type VARD 4 07, 68 meters long, with a capacity of 54 persons, with DP2 dynamic positioning, and powered by 3 Yanmar diesel main generator sets combined with high capacity lithium-ion batteries. It is equipped with SMST’s “Walk-to-Work” system.
The high-specification SOV will be equipped with Voith Schneider Electric Propulsion (eVSP) and is designed for future use of methanol as fuel.
The vessel has a minimum charter period of ten years and will serve the He Dreiht wind farm off the coast of Germany from the end of 2026. The wind farm is located about 90 kilometers northwest of the island of Borkum and 110 kilometers west of Helgoland, and the newbuild will provide on-site accommodation for up to 34 wind technicians to maintain the 64 wind turbines.
Cochin Shipyard said the advancement of this project reflects the yard’s strong commitment to global cooperation and “further establishes India’s position in the global advanced shipbuilding sector.”