On 4 February 2023, BSM-managed Service Operation Vessel (SOV) “Windea Leibniz” left Ulstein Shipyard in Norway after completing an extensive upgrade. With an increase of cabins from 60 to over 80, the vessel has transitioned from an SOV to a Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV). Additionally, the ship received one extra pedestal on the stern for Baltic Sea operations to complement the existing pedestal for North Sea use.
Published on 14 Mar 2023
“Windea Leibniz" is an ultra-modern SOV built in 2017 at Ulstein Shipyard for Bernhard Schulte Offshore to efficiently service offshore wind farms in the North Sea. The vessel functions as a reliable and environmentally sound platform for wind farm operations and maintenance support, technician accommodation and transport, and the provision of exceptional levels of safe and reliable access to offshore installations.
The first milestone during the upgrade included a 50% increase of accommodation capacities on board. Therefore, extensive reconstruction measures, including shifting of the changing/drying rooms, conference rooms and day rooms, were executed. In total the cabin capacity was increased from 63 to 81 cabins. Now “Windea Leibniz” can accommodate up to 85 technical staff for wind farms, service personnel and crew.
The second major upgrade was the installation of a new height-adjustable pedestal for the motion-compensating gangway, making the vessel more flexible in offshore wind farms. Before installation, a new foundation had to be welded to support the new 32-tonne pedestal. Now the gangway can operate in a range between 17.5 metres and 23 metres height above the waterline when fully extended.
The third milestone focused on the installation of a second pedestal for the gangway at the stern. It enables “Windea Leibniz” to also sail in offshore wind parks in the Baltic Sea where service platforms are generally lower than in the North Sea.
Rainer Mueller, Captain of the “Windea Leibniz” at Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, says: “With the two new pedestals, we are more flexible when approaching the service platforms for the wind turbines. There is no uniform standard for the height of the platforms in North Sea wind farms. After the stay in the yard, we can now vary the height of our gangway. With the Baltic pedestal at the stern, we can easily switch our gangway from the North Sea height to the lower Baltic Sea height, which makes us even more flexible when working in different wind farm regions. The new cabins allow us to accommodate more technicians on board. All this really makes ‘Windea Leibniz’ the new it-girl on the CSOV market.”
The upgrade was timed perfectly as European governments want to expand renewable energy capacities in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. Last year, the EU had a capacity of approximately 15 GW in offshore wind power production. Germany alone is aiming to double their capacities by 2030. According to the German government, this equals an expansion of offshore wind energy to at least 30 GW by 2030, with at least 40 GW of installed capacity by 2035 and at least 70 GW by 2045.
“Offshore wind is an essential part for the success and the transformation of the energy sector towards sustainable and green solutions. The upgrade makes ‘Windea Leibniz’ even more attractive for the market,” says Matthias Mueller, Managing Director of shipowner Bernhard Schulte Offshore.
“Windea Leibniz” is based on a unique vessel design by Ulstein Group. The ship combines an X‑Bow® and X-Stern®, making it more flexible and fuel-efficient when moving to the next turbine within a wind farm. In addition, the design helps to reduce slamming and vibrations in head seas, resulting in greater comfort for everyone on board.
Technical specification
Length: 88 m
Beam: 18 m
Dead weight: 3,150 tonnes
Draught (max): 6.4 m
Speed (max): 13.5 kn
Accommodation: 85 POB
Deck area: 380 sq. m
Christian Brozinski
Commercial Director Bernhard Schulte Offshore
ContactChristian Brozinski
Commercial Director Bernhard Schulte Offshore
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