LD Armateurs Launches Wind of Ocean, First of Two Vessels for Vattenfall

LD Armateurs reached a new milestone in the development of its offshore wind fleet with the launch of the Wind of Ocean, the first of two service operation vessels (SOV) built for Vattenfall.

This milestone, achieved at the ZPMC shipyard in China, marks the completion of the vessel's hull and the beginning of the outfitting phase, equipment integration, and sea trials prior to its scheduled delivery in 2027.

The Wind of Ocean will operate in the DanTysk and Sandbank offshore wind farms in the North Sea, where it will provide accommodation for maintenance crews and facilitate the daily transport of technicians and their equipment to the wind turbines.

With a length of 90 meters and a beam of 19.60 meters, the vessel will be able to accommodate up to 96 people on board, including crews and technicians working on offshore installations.

Developed in collaboration with SALT Ship Design in Norway, the Wind of Ocean incorporates several innovations designed to improve operational performance and reduce its environmental impact.

The vessel is equipped with a hybrid-electric propulsion system that combines state-of-the-art generators and batteries. Thanks to a significantly larger energy storage capacity compared to previous LD Armateurs' SOVs, this architecture optimizes fuel consumption, limits emissions, and reduces onboard noise pollution.

Furthermore, the Wind of Ocean adopts a double-ended design, a first for LD Armateurs in this type of vessel. Thanks to a symmetrical hull at bow and stern and four identical azimuthal thrusters, this simpler and more flexible architecture improves dynamic positioning (DP) performance, simplifies maintenance operations, and increases the vessel's maneuverability during approaches to wind turbines, while reducing noise and vibrations in the accommodations.

The vessel also features a state-of-the-art compensated gangway, allowing for the safe transfer of technicians and equipment to the wind turbines, even in adverse sea conditions. This equipment is essential for offshore maintenance operations and is one of the key elements of the vessel's design.

The launch marks the beginning of a new phase in the construction project. The teams will now continue installing electrical systems, propulsion equipment, interior fittings, and various onboard systems before sea trials, scheduled for the coming months.