Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries : Keel Laying Ceremony for China's First SOVs for Offshore Wind

Recently, the keel laying ceremony took place for two of China's first SOVs for offshore wind designed by ZPMC in Qidong Haigong, marking another milestone node of the project's completion on schedule.

The owner of the two vessels is Shanghai Electric Wind Power Group Co., Ltd.. The two vessels adopted the basic design of a well-known European design company, the detailed design was undertaken by ZPMC, and the construction of them started in Qidong Offshore. One of the two SOV for offshore wind is equipped with the first wave compensation trestle in China with independent intellectual property rights of ZPMC.

A SOV for offshore wind is 72.76m long and 17.5m wide, with a designed speed of 12Kn and a fixed number of staff of 60 people. Another is 93.4m long and 19m wide, with a designed speed of 12.3Kn and a fixed number of staff of 100 people. Both vessels are capable of supporting crew life and operations at sea for more than 30 days, meeting the operational requirements of non-restricted waters. Both vessels are equipped with a dynamic wave compensation trestle and a DP2 power positioning system to enable safe and smooth transfer of personnel and cargo between the vessels and wind turbine towers in harsh sea conditions. They are much safer and more efficient than conventional SOVs. Both vessels adopt diesel-electric marine propulsion and DC busbar distribution system, have excellent berthing and maneuvering performance, and can realize efficient storage and transportation of wind farm equipment and spare parts. Both vessels are also equipped with helicopter platforms, work boats and boarding platforms, and are extremely efficient at transporting and deploying personnel.

The project is the first time that China introduced a dedicated SOV in the field of offshore wind power operation and maintenance, and the two vessels are respectively scheduled for delivery at the end of 2023 and early 2024. After the project is put into operation, it will effectively alleviate the difficulties of the current Chinese mainstream accommodation vessels, such as short window period, inability to successive operations, too many round trips, high downtime costs, poor adaptability to harsh sea conditions, limited spare parts carrying capacity, etc. The project will make up for the lack of a dedicated SOV in China's offshore wind power operations and maintenance, marking China's offshore wind power operations and maintenance sector on par with international standards, and making operations and maintenance more professional, efficient and safe.