James Fisher and Sons, a provider of specialist products and services to the energy, marine and defense industries, and Graig Shipping PLC, U.K. shipowner, unveiled the Ulstein Twin X-Stern, a service operation vessel (SOV) design concept. The SOV will support the U.K.’s target of 50 GW of offshore wind energy generation by 2030 as part of its net zero strategy.
The concept is the result of collaboration by the Diamond Consortium, a collaboration between James Fisher and Graig with support from DNV and design partner Ulstein Design Solutions.
Placing sustainability at the fore, the Diamond SOV concept will address the supply chain chasm threatening to stymie offshore wind progress with a scalable, modular solution that can be achieved through high-volume series construction to meet developer time and budgetary constraints. With a reduced-energy consumption and increased maneuverability, the vessel will help developers lower scope 3 emissions in the construction of offshore wind farms.
James Fisher has been facilitating the U.K.’s energy system transition through innovation in vessel design, technology, and propulsion systems throughout its 175-year history.
“The philosophy behind the Diamond SOV has been successfully applied to other vessel segments for many years: developing a specification that meets a market need while allowing for a high degree of customization and configuration for individual owners and developers. We chose to go with Ulstein due to their history of successful innovative designs and believe the Twin X-Stern to be the best choice for service operations of offshore wind farms,” said Jim Hey, group business development director at Fisher.
“Building SOVs in series volumes achieves significant economies of scale and delivers a design that can be built in multiple yards simultaneously. Considering the anticipated market demand for SOVs in the U.K. and beyond by the end of the decade, this exciting new concept places the U.K. at the center of enabling global offshore wind ambitions,” Hey said.
“We have successfully partnered over many years with DNV on the Graig-led Diamond business model, and we are now applying this proven, scalable strategy to the global offshore wind markets with a particular focus on U.K. waters, helping to meet the challenging environmental goals in front of us,” said Graig Shipping PLC CEO Hugh Williams.
More info jamesfisherrenewables.com
