Vard News

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard has delivered a newbuild Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) to Norwind Offshore, which has been named Norwind Helm.The vessel naming ceremony was held in Ålesund on November 15, 2024, marking the fifth vessel delivery from Vard to Norwind Offshore, a company that offers specialized vessels designed for advanced maritime operations in the development and service of the offshore wind sector..The CSOVs designed and built for Norwind Offshore are tailor-made for world-wide services…

Fincantieri and Viking signed contracts for the construction of two new cruise ships, which will build on the characteristics of previous ships already built in their Italian factories for this shipowner. The ships will be delivered in 2030. The value of the deal, subject to financing and other standard terms and conditions, has been defined as "large", or between 500 million and 1 billion euros.Fincantieri and Viking have also reached an agreement for a further 4 ships under option with deliveries expected between 2031 and 2032.

UK-based offshore vessel owner North Star has secured its first contract for a commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) from EnBW, which will be deployed at 960 MW He Dreiht offshore wind farm in Germany.This award for the newbuild Grampian Kestrel CSOV of VARD 4 22 design, will precede the decade-long minimum charter contract the firm signed in February to provide a service operation vessel (SOV) for the German energy utility firm’s He Dreiht wind farm in the North Sea.Tailored for the commissioning phase…

Hurtigruten released updated plans for its Sea Zero project, a zero-emission ship scheduled to debut in 2030 which is now in its R&D phase. The ship, as designed today, will lean on large batteries, sails, and other solutions to sail emission-free during normal operation, while energy consumption could be reduced by 40-50%.Hurtigruten announced its Sea Zero project in October 2022, and unveiled its first set of renderings in summer 2023. A second version of renderings are now released…

Hurtigruten has released updated plans for its Sea Zero project, the zero-emission ship scheduled to debut in 2030.With the help of large batteries and sails, the ship will be able to sail entirely emission-free during normal operation, with energy consumption reduced by 40-50%.Hurtigruten initially announced its Sea Zero project in October 2022, and then unveiled its first set of renderings in summer 2023. This latest advancement was developed in the Norwegian city of Ålesund by Vard…

North Star has launched a partnership which includes MO4, Principle Power, SMST, Vard, and Voith Group to fast-track the development of high-performance operations and maintenance ships tailored for floating offshore wind farms.The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a dedicated working group of industry experts to help fast-track the design and testing of a new service operations vessel (SOV) concept.Together, the six organizations have committed to developing a detailed…

Vard, Norwegian subsidiary of the Fincantieri Group, has signed a new contract for the design and construction of one tailor-made Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) for Navigare Capital Partners.The contract, established in close collaboration with Norwind Offshore in which Navigare Capital Partners holds a shareholding position, represents the first option to be exercised from the agreement signed in March 2024.In addition to this contract, Vard and Navigare Capital Partners have also agreed on two new options where the first one can be declared later in 2024…

Fincantieri, Vard Marine (VARD) and Sandock Austral Shipyards forged a partnership to build ships in Africa -- aiming to effectively reshape the African maritime security landscape -- a collaboration centered on the Afrika Offshore Patrol Vessel (VARD 7 055), a 53-meter patrol vessel tailored for the country's operating environment. The deal gives exclusive marketing and manufacturing rights for the VARD 7 055 to Sandock Austral Shipyards across sub-Saharan Africa.Image courtesy VARD

Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot became the first cruise ship to reach the North Pole of Inaccessibility on September 12.The North Pole of Inaccessibility is the point on the Arctic Ocean that is furthest from land. First described in 1909 by the Russian polar explorer Alexander Koltchak, the exact geographic coordinates were established in 2013 by Jim McNeill with the help of NASA and satellites: 85°48’ North, 176°09’ East. It is located at 1,465km (910 miles) from Utqiasuk in Alaska…

The initial design for a new ammonia bunkering articulated tug-barge (ATB) has been granted approval in principle (AIP) from classification society the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).The partners behind the project, including ABS, A.P. Moller – Maersk A/S, Fleet Management Limited, Georgia Ports Authority, Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS), Sumitomo Corporation and TOTE Services, came together in March 2023 and have been conducting a feasibility study on ship-to-ship bunkering of reduced emission ammonia along the U.S.

Van Oord’s new cable laying vessel (CLV) Calypso is gearing up for its debut at RWE’s 1.4 GW Sofia offshore wind farm in the UK.The inter-array cables have been loaded onto Calypso CLV at the Port of Blyth in the UK, ahead of its first job at RWE’s biggest offshore wind, according to Van Oord, which secured the contract for the installation of monopile foundations and cables back in 2021.Built by Vard, the vessel is 130 meters long and has a beam of 28 meters.The DP2 Calypso is equipped with a below-deck cable carousel and a second carousel on deck…

Norwegian lifting and handling specialist Seaonics has tested its Ocean Charger solution on an electric service operation vessel (SOV).High-voltage charging tests were conducted to charge the batteries on Rem Offshore’s diesel-electric hybrid construction SOV, REM Power, in port as well offshore from a charging point (cable reel, winch and control system) mounted on a wind turbine."At 10 years old, the turbine is one of the smallest offshore but the prototype proved it is possible to install the Ocean Charger on an existing turbine and charge an SOV from day one…

Ocean Infinity has received a Statement of Compliance (SOC) from DNV for its remotely supported vessel operations, marking industry's first such achievement.The approval from DNV, the world's leading classification society, establishes Ocean Infinity as the industry's first organization to reach the required standard of technology and operations for large vessels, and permits the beginning of onshoring marine related tasks and activities.The significance of this achievement was underscored at SMM in Hamburg…

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard has secured a contract to provide design and equipment to Cochin Shipyard in India for two Service Operation Vessels (SOVs), one of VARD 4 07 and one of VARD 4 19 design, being built for North Star.Vard has previously delivered 12 designs to the Cochin Shipyard. The first hybrid electric SOV to be delivered by Cochin Shipyard is of VARD 4 07 design and is tailored to meet North Star’s specific requirements.The focus has been to develop a competitive…

Vard has signed a contract for the design and construction of a second hybrid ocean energy construction vessel (OECV) for the Norwegian shipping group Island Offshore.In May, the companies signed a contract for one firm OECVs with an option for two sister vessels. This new contract confirms the first option.“We are happy to confirm this order, demonstrating our faith in the market outlook and our commitment to continue renewing our fleet. The vessel will further strengthen Island Offshore’s positioning in attractive market segments based on a fleet of versatile advanced offshore vessels…

Bergen Engines announced a new contract with VARD to supply a Bergen B33:45L9P propulsion engine to the Norwegian owner Havbryn AS, a part of Strand Rederi. The vessel will be built in VARD’s 8 02 design and operate on a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system, minimizing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while in operation.The new stern trawler, with a length of 80.4 meters and a beam of 16.7 meters, is being constructed with an ice-strengthened hull according to Ice-1A standards, and it will feature an advanced H/G processing factory, and spacious cargo areas.

Marine News spoke to leaders at three North American naval architecture and marine engineering firms about some of the latest trends impacting their business today. Morgan Fanberg, CEO, Glosten; Robert Ekse, President, Elliott Bay Design Group; and Wade Carson, CEO, Vard Marine, weigh in on topics ranging from digitalization and decarbonization to the naval architect talent pool.How are advances in digitalization and AI impacting the naval architecture business today? How will…

Petrobras has awarded contracts to Techdof, a joint venture between DOF Subsea and TechnipFMC, for two of its pipelay support vessel (PLSVs).Petrobras extended the existing contract for PLSV Skandi Açu to mid-2026. This extension will be followed by the new three-year contract ending mid-2029, DOF informed.Skandi Açu is designed to achieve a 650-tonne laying tension capacity, enabling the installation of large diameter flexible pipes in ultra deepwater environments, such as the Brazilian pre-salt.The vessel has been built by VARD in Romania and Norway.Also…

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard has signed a contract with Wind Energy Construction for the design and construction of a new energy construction vessel (ECV), securing also an option for one additional vessel.Wind Energy Construction is a Norwegian company partly owned by the founders and owners of Norwind Offshore. The most recent order marks the sixth vessel the owners of Norwind Offshore have contracted with Vard since October 2021. The five previous vessels were CSOVs.The parties…

Norway-based offshore vessel owner Rem Offshore has signed a contract with shipbuilder Vard for the design and construction of a new commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) for offshore wind services.This will be the third CSOV Vard will deliver to Rem Offshore. The first two, REM Power and REM Wind, were delivered in 2023 and 2024 respectively.The CSOV is tailored to provide services during the construction, operation, and maintenance of offshore wind farms worldwide.It will feature VARD 4 19 design, developed by Vard Design in Ålesund.

Prysmian's Monna Lisa vessel, being build by Vard, has reached Norway for final outfitting, installation of main mission equipment and trials, before becoming fully operational in 2025.The 171-meter-long cable laying vessel (CLV) arrived to Norway after travelling 4,000 nautical miles around Europe for 28 days, following its launch at Vard’s shipyard in Tulcea Romania.The vessel was towed down the Danube River, across the Mediterranean Sea, and up the coast of Portugal and Spain…

Vard has launched the cable laying vessel (CLV) being built for Danish offshore services firm NCT Offshore, ahead of delivery planned later in 2024.The newbuild CLV, named Freja, has been launched at Vard Shipyards in Tulcea, Romania.The vessel features VARD 9 01 design, and is especially equipped for subsea cable laying operations and developed in close collaboration with NCT Offshore.According to Vard, the vessel has high focus on sea-keeping capabilities, excellent station keeping performances and low fuel consumption.The cable layer…

Seaspan Energy this week announced the launch of its third new 7,600m3 liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel, Seaspan Baker.This series is being built by CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (CIMC SOE) in China. The first two vessels, Seaspan Garibaldi (Nch’ḵay̓) and Seaspan Lions (Ch’ich’iyúy Elxwíkn), will be delivered later this year, followed by Seaspan Baker in 2025.Seaspan Baker is currently targeted to service the Long Beach containership market and will join Seaspan Lions in providing LNG fueling services for vessels on the West Coast of North America, Seaspan said.