Steel cut for second Skywalker class vessel

The vessel will be named IWS Windwalker and is designed specifically to support commissioning works during the construction of wind farms, as well as supporting operations and maintenance during the lifetime of offshore wind farms, bottom fixed and floating.

Steel was cut on the first vessel of the class, IWS Skywalker, in January 2022.

The Skywalker class can carry up to 120 personnel, has a fully integrated and compensated walk-to-work gangway and a 3D compensated crane which can lift cargo fully compensated from the vessel deck to a fixed or floating wind turbine or perform subsea operations for the balance of plant scope.

Theses hybrid powered vessels will be some of the first vessels in the industry capable of zero emission operations. The vessels are designed by Kongsberg Maritime and equipped with the latest generation fully compensated gangway and crane from MacGregor.

The vessels have a large battery pack with solar panels for additional charging, hull and propulsion design for increasing operability and reducing emissions, and an energy consumption estimated to be 20% lower than other CSOVs currently under construction.

The vessels are the first in the industry to have the “DNV SILENT” notation, which focuses on minimising the impact on marine life below water.

The Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment (ENOVA) has granted EUR 1 million per vessel to support the environmental initiatives, and the advanced technologies installed will reduce annual emissions by more than 1,300t CO2 equivalents per vessel.

IWS Windwalker is expected to be operational mid-2023. On delivery, IWS Skywalker will commence its first contract at the Dogger Bank Wind Farm in summer 2023. Dogger Bank Wind Farm is owned by SSE, Equinor, and ENI.

To meet strong market demand for CSOVs, IWS Fleet is in dialogue for ordering additional vessels of the Skywalker class for delivery in early 2024.