Denmark’s offshore shipping player Esvagt and offshore wind giant Ørsted have sealed a deal for a second methanol-powered service operation vessel (SOV).
Esvagt is already building a 93-m-long SOV in Turkey, set to enter service by the end of 2024 at the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Hornsea 2, off the UK’s east coast.
The second unit will be a sister vessel built by the same shipyard and ready for launch in 2026 to operate out of Ørsted’s UK East Coast Hub on a 10-year contract.
Both newbuilds will be powered by dual-fuel engines capable of sailing on renewable e-methanol produced at Ørsted’s facility in Sweden. Estimated yearly carbon emission reductions are around 4,500 tonnes per ship.
Ørsted has set a target to become carbon-neutral in its energy generation and own operations by 2025, and the additional green fuel SOV is expected to build on that, as the utility works towards its science-based target of reaching net-zero emissions across the full value chain by 2040.
“As the world leader in offshore wind, Ørsted will continue to look for the best green alternatives to fossil fuels. E-methanol is a strong match for our SOVs, and we’re very pleased that we, along with ESVAGT, will soon welcome the second methanol-powered vessel to our fleet,” remarked Mark Porter, head of operations at Ørsted Europe.
