Windcat Offshore, the Dutch vessel operator owned by Belgian shipowner CMB.TECH, has placed an order for a series of new commissioning support vessels (CSOVs) to expand its fleet.
According to details disclosed in CMB.TECH’s third-quarter financial report, Windcat Offshore has signed a 1+5 CSOV construction contract with Damen Shipyards in the Netherlands, with delivery expected in 2028.
The new vessel design builds upon the core principles of Windcat Offshore’s existing CSOV class, featuring slightly enhanced specifications: a length of 102 meters, a beam of 20 meters, and accommodation for 190 crew members, ensuring a minimum continuous operational capability of 28 days. During offshore operations, personnel can safely and comfortably access offshore facilities via a motion-compensated gangway, which maintains a fixed connection to other structures.
The new vessel features 750 square meters of deck space, equipped with a 150-ton subsea crane and a DP2+ system; It possesses Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) launch and recovery capabilities; It carries a 3,981 kWh high-capacity battery pack, which enables peak shaving functionality. This allows the variable-speed main engine to consistently operate at its most efficient point during dynamic positioning operations and similar scenarios, thereby reducing fuel consumption; It is equipped with a dual-fuel hydrogen engine, and the auxiliary generator can utilize hydrogen as fuel.