Norwind Offshore, Vard to build first ‘energy construction vessel’

Vard has signed a contract for an energy construction vessel (ECV) with Wind Energy Construction, a Norwegian company partly owned by the founders and owners of Norwind Offshore. According to the two companies, this is a whole new vessel category, developed jointly by Vard and Norwind Offshore.

Under the contract, Vard will design and build the ECV and could also build one more as the agreement with Wind Energy Construction contains an option for one additional vessel which can be declared later this year.

The first ECV will be built, outfitted, commissioned and delivered from Vard Vung Tau shipyard in Vietnam and is scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of 2027.

“We are pleased to have, together with VARD, developed a new vessel category which will enable the development of renewable energy to an even greater extent,” said CEO of Norwind Offshore Svein Leon Aure.

“The concept builds on vessels within the construction market which we have previously built with VARD, and we feel confident that this will play an important role in the development of, among other things, offshore wind in the coming years.”

The energy construction vessel (ECV) will have a length of 111.5 metres and will be able to accommodate 120 people on board.

The vessel is of VARD 3 11 design, which the company says is tailor-made for the offshore wind and subsea market, including inspection, maintenance and repair of pipes, and construction and installation of infrastructure above and below sea level.

This is the first construction vessel Vard will build with a permanently installed motion-compensated gangway for walk-to-work operations. A walk-to-work electric controlled motion compensated (ECMC) gangway with integrated 3D compensated crane functionality will be installed. To expand capacities, especially towards the growing renewables market, a movement-compensated offshore crane of 150 tonnes is also being installed, according to Vard.

This is the sixth vessel the Norwegian vessel designer and builder will deliver to Norwind Offshore, the five previous vessels being commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs) that Norwind has ordered over the past few years, since 2021.

“This contract shows that VARD maintains its technological and industrial leadership in the offshore market. Together with the customer we push boundaries and continue to develop our vessels to the best of our customers wanting to be a part of the green transition. We welcome Norwind Offshore and Wind Energy Construction AS back and look forward to continuous collaboration,” said Torgeir Haugan, Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing at Vard.