Offshore Marine Management (OMM) has formed a partnership with vessel owner, Rederij Groen (RG), to bring the offshore renewables industry a purpose built service operations vessel (SOV) for the operations & maintenance (O&M) market.

The companies engaged Saltwater Engineering in Holland for the design of the vessel.

The SOV has been designed based on real time experiences during the offshore installation, maintenance and repair phases of offshore energy projects and the realisation that distances increase from base ports to windfarms so there is a requirement to stay offshore longer.

Reportedly, the vessel combines a new approach to offshore maintenance support, enabling a proactive response to O&M tasks for both subsea and topside tasks. It can deliver both top side preventative maintenance services and subsea cable repair response plans.

As the view of offshore windfarm O&M changes its aims to incorporate subsea risk to the revenues of the windfarm investors. The vessel incorporates this ideology that the windfarm is seen as both topside and subsea but all one asset.

The vessel is designed for for personnel transfer and for the active heave compensated deck crane operations with the support of 2 daughter craft. Its workshops at boat deck level can provide service of the inbuilt diving spread equipment and the inbuilt ROV control and habitats. Additionally, it will have an ability to carry over 10 containers for spares and supplies to potential offshore accommodation stations.

According to OMM, this vessel has the endurance of 30 days offshore and will support works around turbine masts, substations platforms, topsides and subsea tasks, power, telecoms and mattress applications as contracted. It will be fit to facilitate 60 POB (crew and offshore workers).

Rob Grimmond, CEO at OMM, commented: “This is the next stage of tomorrows’ thinking towards installation and O&M services brought forward to today. Our first-hand experience in offshore projects and the specialist knowledge of Saltwater Engineering have provided an extensive level of insight which has allowed us to create such a purpose built design and specification.

“Working many years with Rederij Groen supplying many vessels to the industry it is a natural fit partnership for the delivery of this innovative vessel and services to the industry in an effort to reduce costs and improve response and readiness times. Engaging Saltwater Engineering for the design completed the necessary skill set to bring the design to life. I look forward to seeing this vessel delivered for the future of the offshore renewables industry.”

Rederij Groen added: ”In the last decade Rederij Groen has made quite significant innovative steps and with this new venture, we confirm our proactive approach towards future developments in the offshore industry. This collaboration will allow Rederij Groen and OMM to grow and expand and both are excited about this new partnership and the future prospects it enables.”

The companies are working towards delivery in Q4 2017.