A major programme of investment in support vessels tailored to the long-term needs of the offshore wind sector on the UK Continental Shelf is being rolled out by the Aberdeen company North Star Renewables.

Two of four service operation vessels (SOVs) contracted from the VARD Group have been delivered so far this year, and a further order spanning up to four ships in the commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) category have been placed with the Norwegian international shipbuilder.

Grampian Tyne and Grampian Derwent have given first form to the SOV series, with the third newbuild, Grampian Tees, in hand at VARD’s Vietnamese premises and expected before the end of 2023. She is to be followed by the fourth ship, Grampian Tweed, some 12 months later.

Each of the SOVs has been committed on 10-year charter to support operations and maintenance (O&M) work on the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm in the North Sea, some 130km from the Yorkshire coast. Once fully completed in 2026, the 3.6GW development will be the largest of its kind worldwide, with capacity to supply 6m British homes.