Orsted has signed an agreement for a second methanol-powered service operation vessel to be based in Grimsby.
The world leader in offshore wind is working with fellow Danish firm Esvagt to provide a sister vessel to the first venture on the Net Zero journey announced last year. It provides a floating hotel and workshop environment allowing technicians to stay out in the field for weeks at a time.
Set to launch in 2026, and slightly larger than the three already in use, it will operate out of the company’s East Coast Hub at Royal Dock on a 10-year contract - with the Hornsea Three farm set to emerge then. It will be powered by dual fuel engines, capable of sailing on renewable e-methanol - which Orsted is to produce - saving 4,500 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
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Mark Porter, head of European operations at Orsted, said: “As the world leader in offshore wind, Orsted will continue to look for the best green alternatives to fossil fuels. E-methanol is a strong match for our SOVs, and we’re very pleased that we, along with Esvagt, will soon welcome the second methanol-powered vessel to our fleet.”
The latest vessel will measure 93m in length, with a breadth of 19.6m, and will accommodate 124 people. As with the previous vessels, it will feature a walk-to-work motion-compensated gangway, crane, transfer boats and helipad.
Søren Karas, chief strategy and commercial officer at Esvagt, said: “We are delighted to expand our collaboration with Orsted on this ground-breaking operation. As a global market leader in marine services for offshore wind, Esvagt is deeply committed to continuously innovating to deliver lower emission solutions. We are looking forward to bringing the first methanol powered SOVs to the market.”
To fuel the sister vessels, a 50,000 tonne production plant is under construction in Sweden - FlagshipOne - and will be producing from 2025. Orsted recently took what is described as Europe’s largest final investment decision on the project, while it also has a 300,000 tonne production plant proposed for the US Gulf Coast and a Green Fuels for Denmark project in Copenhagen. It is working with Danish heavy transport operators, including the shipping industry there.
Orsted has targeted becoming carbon-neutral in its energy generation and own operations by 2025, and the additional, second green fuel SOV will build on that, as it works towards its science-based target of reaching net-zero emissions across the full value chain by 2040.
The additions come as neighbour RWE will also welcome similar dual-fuel vessels to the port to serve its wind farms on a similar timeline.
