A joint venture between Schoeller Holdings and Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt (German Offshore Shipping) will be entering the offshore energy market with four construction commissioning service operation vessels (C-CSOVs).
Launched a year ago, the joint venture will start by marketing the special-purpose vessels as their commercial manager. Cyprus-based Schoeller Holdings has ordered the ships from CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a member of the China State Shipbuilding Group, for delivery beginning in early 2027.
This innovative ship type will be able accommodate on board up to 100 technicians at the high level of comfort. The C-CSOVs will offer maximum operational flexibility, as it will be possible to deploy them in the offshore wind sector as well as in other segments of the offshore energy sector.
Thanks to their wide range of potential uses, the 96.25-metre-long and 20-metre-wide ships will be suitable for performing work above and below water for wind farm installation and their operators, turbine manufacturers, grid operators and companies in the oil and gas sector.
Technical management will be provided by Columbia Shipmanagement, which, like the multipurpose cargo shipping company AAL, is part of Schoeller Holdings. Columbia Shipmanagement is synonymous with the highest quality and safety standards. With locations across the world, it provides a comprehensive range of services, including the hotel operations at sea and the staffing and training of specialist personnel on board.
“The energy market is desperate for new players and more ships. We will charter out the C-CSOVs worldwide, both on the spot market and for long-term contracts of up to 15 years,” says Philipp Maracke, Managing Partner of Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt. Maracke founded the company together with Johannes Wolters, who acts also as managing partner. Both have extensive professional experience in the maritime industry, having worked for many years in management positions for renowned German shipyards.
Innovative C-CSOV vessel type: significantly expanded range of applications
The C-CSOV represents a major innovation in the offshore shipping market. While the CSOV designs of today’s fleet are tailored to deployment exclusively on offshore wind turbines, the C-CSOV stands out thanks to its ability to be used in a much broader range of applications.
This new type of ship will have an enlarged and fully modular working deck, providing over 850 square metres of unobstructed multipurpose space. When used in conjunction with a 50-tonne AHC crane featuring integrated 3D motion compensation, the special-purpose vessel will be able to perform not only conventional Offshore Wind tasks but also cable repairs, IMR and light construction work both above and below water.
The fully integrated offshore gangway system will provide access to platforms between 12 and 30 metres above the waterline. A spacious lift will allow technicians and the necessary material to be transported to the offshore facilities quickly and without steps. A 12.4-tonne helicopter deck will satisfy the offshore industry’s requirements for these kinds of special-purpose vessels. The ship has also been designed for the use of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).
Compared to other CSOVs in the current fleet, Deutsche Offshore’s C-CSOV stands out in particular due to its ability to be equipped with modular cable repair spreads. The mobilisation of such equipment in combination with the available crane capacity and the ROV makes it possible to offer repairs to critical cable infrastructure in the shortest possible time.
Particular emphasis has been placed on sustainable and economical operation, with the result that the ships are extremely energy efficient. Optimised hydrodynamics in conjunction with an energy-efficient configuration of the propulsion and energy system will reduce fuel consumption, thus emissions, significantly. Particularly worthy of mention in this case are the 1,000 kWh battery pack and the shore power connection. Shifting away from on-board hydraulics, together with the electrification of large equipment, as well as the use of recuperation and heat recovery will lower the energy requirements and the environmental footprint of the ships.
Furthermore, the special-purpose vessels will eventually be able to operate in a climate-neutral manner. Designing the vessel, the future retrofitting to operate on methanol as an alternative fuel was considered to a much higher degree than the class notation requires. For example, the dedicated tanks and pipelines have already been fully integrated into the vessel. In addition, the energy system was designed to enable the ship to be operated entirely on electricity in the future.
Large, well-equipped living and leisure facilities – including a 165 square metre gym, entertainment rooms, spacious lounges and a weather-protected outdoor recreation balcony – will provide the technical offshore personnel with a pleasant environment during their stay on board. Noise levels and ship vibrations on board have been dramatically reduced. As a result, the vessels have been assigned a class notation of COMF (C2, V2), whose requirements are going to be exceeded in many areas of the ship.
Attractive ship for a wide range of customers
“We have applied our experience in building yachts and naval vessels to advance the most common designs,” explains Johannes Wolters, Managing Partner of Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt. “By combining a modified layout with modularity, we have created a vessel that is attractive for a wide range of customers without having to make compromises in the offshore wind market.” The ship design was jointly developed by Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt and the Norwegian company Salt Ship Design, a leading expert with extensive experience in the offshore shipping industry.
High demand for support vessels in the energy market
The global energy market is currently experiencing high demand for support ships. Europe is already in the flowering phase and needs a large number of ships to support offshore construction projects that have already been approved. Attractive offshore markets are currently springing up in Japan, Taiwan and other countries. Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt is positioning itself as an important player in the rapidly growing energy market. The Hamburg company sees its core task in the development of special offshore ships and the commercial operation of these technically sophisticated vessels tailored to the energy market.
