Asia’s first offshore wind power service operation vessels arrive in Qidong

Shanghai Electric Wind Power Group has taken delivery of what it says are Asia’s first offshore wind power service and operation vessels (SOVs)

Sustainable SOVs

The vessels, Zhizhen 100 and Zhicheng 60, were built by Zhenhua Heavy Industries. They arrived in China’s Qidong, Jiangsu province on August 21, 2024, where they are expected to promote deep-sea energy coupling exploration.

Powered by a diesel-electric and lithium battery hybrid system with full electric propulsion and DC bus bar distribution, they hold hybrid power and green ship classifications certificated by the China Classification Society (CCS). The Zhizhen 100 has a total length of 93.4m, a beam of 18m, a depth of 7.6m and a designed service speed of 12.3kts. In contrast, the Zhicheng 60 has a total length of 72.76m, a beam of 17.5m, a depth of 7m and a designed service speed of 12kts.

Wind power service operations

The ships can reportedly carry out continuous operation and maintenance operations in deep water and at deep-sea wind farms. This is intended to alleviate pain points in China’s current mainstream marine transportation ships, including short-window periods, the inability to hold continuous operations, frequent round trips, low efficiency and poor functioning in severe sea conditions.

The two delivered SOVs are equipped with DP2 dynamic positioning systems. According to Shanghai Electric Wind Power Group, they have a self-sustaining capacity of over 30 days and are equipped with a large cargo space with the capacity to store heavy-duty wind turbine spare parts.

Alongside this, the Zhizhen 100 and the Zhicheng 60 are equipped with an active wave compensation pier that mitigates hull displacement due to waves, enabling efficient personnel and spare parts transfer and wind farm maintenance even in harsh sea conditions. They feature a folding arm offshore crane, a workboat, a boarding frame and an aluminum-alloy helicopter platform. Additionally, an advanced smart operation system enhances maintenance efficiency and reduces work intensity, extending the operational window.

Liu Xiangnan, vice president of Shanghai Electric Wind Power Group, commented, “These two offshore wind power service and operation vessels integrate efficient operation and maintenance, green and smart operations and maintenance, and are important carriers for the forward-looking structure of electric wind power in deep seas that will drive the high-quality development of China’s offshore wind power operation and maintenance capabilities.

“As a pioneer, leader and builder of China’s offshore wind power, Shanghai Electric Wind Power Group has been deeply involved in the development and growth of China’s offshore wind power, and has actively responded to the needs of China’s offshore wind power to develop in deep seas.”

In related news, Eidesvik Offshore recently partnered with Agalas to build a construction support vessel (CSV) to perform subsea and offshore wind operations that will be equipped with methanol engines and a battery hybrid system. Click here to read the full story.