Offshore wind continues its growing industrialization in Belgium as MHI Vestas Offshore Wind and Esvagt will announce the inauguration of the market’s newest state-of-the-art service vessel.
The new 58-meter ship, outfitted with the latest energy and fuel optimization technology, will operate from the Port of Oostende. The ship is equipped with three safe transfer boats designed for safe and efficient transfer of personnel from the ‘Esvagt Mercator’ to the turbine.
The vessel, christened as ‘Esvagt Mercator’, will support 50 turbines at Nobelwind, Belgium’s newest offshore wind park, and 55 turbines at Belwind 1.
“With the inauguration of Esvagt Mercator, we are deepening our commitment to the Belgian offshore wind market and our expertise in the operations and maintenance business,” says Flemming Ougaard, Chief Operations Officer at MHI Vestas. “The collaboration with Esvagt in the design of such an advanced service operations vessel has been outstanding. We look forward to utilising all this ship has to offer in maintaining the turbines at Nobelwind and Belwind 1.”
The 10-year lease agreement deepens the relationship between the two companies in the region and will provide the latest in service operation vessel technology. A vessel such as ‘Esvagt Mercator’ is a key driver in increasing service efficiency and turbine availability – essential issues for the burgeoning offshore wind industry.
“Esvagt is proud to continue our partnership with MHI Vestas in developing the most efficient and safe solutions in the offshore wind industry,” said Søren Karas, Chief Commercial Officer at Esvagt.As two market leaders, we are joined in our commitment to being innovative and bringing efficient service solutions to offshore wind farms.”
The new 58-meter ship, outfitted with the latest energy and fuel optimization technology, will operate from the Port of Oostende. It will be a home for 36 people for up to two weeks at sea. The ship is equipped with three safe transfer boats designed for safe and efficient transfer of personnel from the ‘Esvagt Mercator’ to the turbine. MHI Vestas has an operations and maintenance base in Oostende with 65 people.
Filed Under: News, O&M, Offshore wind, Projects
