Wind Farm Service Vessel To Employ Shottel Propulsion

French shipping company Louis Dreyfus Armateurs has selected Schottel to supply a range of propulsion systems for its second wind farm service operation vessel (SOV) the Wind of Hope, the sister vessel of the Wind of Change.

The new walk-to-work vessel is currently under construction at Cemre shipyard in Turkey and will enter service operating under a long-term contract with Ørsted.

The hybrid propulsion system uses variable speed diesel generator sets linked with ABB’s OnBoard DC GridTM switchboards with support of batteries. As a result of all-electric architecture of the vessel, all drives will be connected directly to DC grid, and during gangway operations, regenerated energy will be stored on the battery packs which will reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

The propulsion system of the Salt Ship Design vessel is powered by four diesel generators, which drive the electric motors of the Schottel propulsion package. Two Schottel Rudderpropellers type SRP 430 FP, each with an input power of 1660 kW and a propeller diameter of 2.4 m, are installed at the stern. Two Schottel Transverse Thrusters type STT 6 FP (1400 kW each) at the bow and one Schottel Retractable Rudderpropeller type SRP 260 R FP (880 kW) will allow for better maneuverability during dynamic positioning of the DP 2-compliant vessel.

Upon delivery in 2021, the 83.0-m long and 19.4-m wide vessel will become part of a contract with Ørsted, the largest energy company in Denmark. It will support the Hornsea Project Two offshore wind farm off the coast of England.

The Wind of Hope will provide modern accommodation (individual cabins with sea view and video on demand, a gym and a cinema, etc.) for more than 60 technicians for several weeks at a time. As is the case with its sister vessel, the technicians will be safely transferred to the wind turbines by means of a daughter craft in good weather. A dynamic motion compensated gangway will allow for a fast and secure transfer of the personnel in heavy seas.