- Four-vessel fleet to support 200 North Star jobs, including 100 new roles –
North Star has secured multi-million-pound landmark agreements to support RWE’s growing offshore wind farm portfolio with four hybrid-powered commissioning /service operation vessels (C/SOVs).
The deal comprises two firm long-term charter agreements and two reservation agreements for new-build vessels, together representing the first and largest commitment in the sector to date, and the biggest in North Star’s history.
The UK’s leading shipowner-operator previously set the world record after securing a three-ship agreement in 2021 for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, where it now has four serving as logistics bases and accommodation for technicians, enabling safe, efficient maintenance at sea.
RWE is one of the world’s leading companies in offshore wind. The company currently operates 19 offshore wind farms (RWE’s share amounts to 3.3 GW) and has four offshore wind projects under construction in UK, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands (RWE’s share amounts to 3.1 GW).
This major four-vessel agreement for North Star, is also set to secure employment for up to 200 personnel working across the fleet, including up to 100 new roles on- and offshore over the next decade. The company’s continued investment in its people, fleet and systems, will provide new opportunities for its existing talent and the next generation of offshore wind employees.
The new partnership includes the charter of two next-generation hybrid commissioning SOVs to support RWE’s North Sea operations and maintenance schedule. The Grampian Eagle and the Grampian Kestrel were delivered into operations this year, both vessels are futureproofed and ready for alternative low-emission fuels.
The Grampian Eagle will support operations at the Triton Knoll wind farm off the British coast for a minimum of 12 years. The Grampian Kestrel will be servicing RWE’s German wind farms north of Heligoland for a minimum of 10 years. For Germany, the charter contract starts this winter and for the UK in summer 2026. Both contracts include options for further extensions in charter’s favour of up to three years.
To ensure seamless delivery until the North Star CSOVs are available, two interim Windward Offshore ships will be used, a standout example of industry collaboration.
Additionally, RWE and North Star have signed a reservation agreement for two newbuild SOVs, which will be constructed by global designer and shipbuilder VARD. These ships will be delivered in 2028 and 2029 respectively.
This deal with RWE represents a major expansion of North Star’s operational footprint across UK and Europe and sets a new standard for strategic early engagement between vessel owners and developers.
North Star CEO Gitte Gard Talmo said: “This landmark deal is the beginning of a strategic partnership between two industry leaders, built on early engagement, mutual trust and shared ambitions. We are proud to secure agreements for four state-of-the-art vessels and grateful for the trust put in us by RWE. Our focus is delivering world class operational performance, utilising all of North Star’s expertise and capabilities in SOV services.
With these agreements, we’re putting our scale and track record where it matters the most. This is all made possible thanks to the unwavering dedication, ambition and drive of our entire team, delivering day in, day out, powering our continued growth.”
Thomas Michel, COO of RWE Offshore Wind commented: “Through this long-term partnership, RWE is taking a strategic step by securing next generation service operations vessels against the backdrop of a tight market. Those service operations vessels are an important enabler for RWE to deliver best-in-class performance across our existing operational fleet, as well as for future projects.”
The two newbuilds are based on the proven VARD 4 19 design. Each 87.5m vessel will include a motion-compensated gangway with elevator, boat landing system, and accommodation for up to 120 personnel. Equipped with hybrid battery systems and methanol-ready, they reflect a shared commitment to greener maritime operations.
VARD CEO Cathrine Kristiseter Marti added: “This partnership with North Star represents more than a contract – it’s a convergence of expertise and vision. Together, we are continuing to develop the offshore wind support industry, combining VARD’s shipbuilding excellence with North Star’s operational insight and commitment to sustainability.”
North Star is backed by Partners Group, one of the largest firms in the global private markets industry, which acquired the business in 2022, on behalf of its clients.
Kevin Gilhawley, Member of Management at Partners Group said: “We are excited to establish this long-term partnership with RWE, which we consider a key strategic partner for North Star. This collaboration marks an important milestone in North Star’s remarkable growth journey. Since Partners Group’s acquisition, we have supported the company from board level, driving strategic initiatives to build out North Star’s SOV fleet and position it as the leading offshore wind logistics provider in Europe.”
North Star is headquartered in Aberdeen and has strategically located facilities in Newcastle, Lowestoft and Hamburg. Its workforce is made up of around 1,400 offshore and onshore personnel and carries out all its ship maintenance in-house.
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About North Star:
North Star is the UK’s market-leading fully integrated shipowner-operator, delivering mission-critical offshore infrastructure support services across the offshore wind and oil and gas sectors. Headquartered in Aberdeen with operational bases in Lowestoft, Newcastle and Hamburg, the company employs around 1,400 offshore and onshore personnel. Established over 139 years ago to support the fisheries industry, North Star has since built five decades of proven expertise in the energy sector. Today, it operates a fleet of 45 vessels, including 39 Emergency Response and Rescue Vessels (ERRVs) and Multi Role Vessels (MRVs) that provide continuous support to approximately 50 North Sea installation around the clock, 365 days a year. In support of the energy transition, North Star has invested over half a billion pounds in offshore wind, delivering its first six Service Operation Vessels (SOVs), with two additional SOVs under construction to meet the increasing demands of Europe’s offshore wind market. As the UK’s largest employer of offshore cadets, North Star is committed to the future of maritime, investing around £1 million annually since 1996 to train the next generation of deck and engineering professionals. By combining safety, service, and quality, North Star delivers reliable, high-performance support in some of the world’s most challenging offshore environments.
About RWE
RWE is leading the way to a modern energy world. With its investment and growth strategy, RWE is contributing significantly to the success of the energy transition and the decarbonisation of the energy system. Around 20,000 employees work for the company in almost 30 countries worldwide. RWE is one of the leading companies in the field of renewable energy. RWE is investing billions of euros in expanding its generation portfolio, in particular in offshore and onshore wind, solar energy and batteries. It is perfectly complemented by its global energy trading business. Thanks to its integrated portfolio of renewables, battery storage and flexible generation, as well as its broad project pipeline of possible new builds, RWE is well positioned to address the growing global demand for electricity, particularly driven by further electrification and artificial intelligence. RWE is decarbonising its business in line with the 1.5-degree reduction pathway and will phase out coal by 2030. RWE will be net zero by 2040. Fully in line with the company’s purpose – Our energy for a sustainable life.
About VARD
VARD is one of the major global designers and shipbuilders of specialized vessels. Headquartered in Norway and with approximately 7,000 employees, VARD operates shipbuilding facilities in Norway, Romania, Brazil, and Vietnam. Through its specialized subsidiaries, VARD develops power and automation systems, deck handling equipment, and vessel accommodation solutions, and provides design and engineering services to the global maritime industry.
VARD’s long shipbuilding traditions, cutting-edge innovation and technology coupled with its global operations and track record in constructing complex and highly customized vessels have earned it recognition from industry players and enabled it to build strong relationships with its customers.
Fincantieri Oil & Gas S.p.A, a wholly owned subsidiary of FINCANTIERI S.p.A. Headquartered in Trieste, Italy, is majority shareholder of VARD with around 98 % of the shares. FINCANTIERI is one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups, and a global leader in cruise ship design and reference player in all high-tech shipbuilding industry sectors. With over 230 years of history and more than 7,000 ships built, the Group today has a production network of 18 shipyards operating in four continents and over 20,000 employees.
About Partners Group
Partners Group is one of the largest firms in the global private markets industry, with around 1’800 professionals and over USD 174 billion in assets under management. The firm has investment programs and custom mandates spanning private equity, private credit, infrastructure, real estate, and royalties. With its heritage in Switzerland and its primary presence in the Americas in Colorado, Partners Group is built differently from the rest of the industry. The firm leverages its differentiated culture and its operationally oriented approach to identify attractive investment themes and to build businesses and assets into market leaders. For more information, please visit www.partnersgroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
