Last Thursday 21st December, 2023 the North Star Group Hybrid Electric Service Operation Vessel (SOV), GRAMPIAN TEES called at Grand Harbour, Malta at 1730 hrs (1630 UTC) berthing at Pinto 3 Wharf for crew change, uplifting bunkers and stores/provisions.
She’s the third vessel in a series of four destined for decade-long minimum charters to support operations and maintenance work at the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm. Once the windfarm currently under construction is fully operational, the complete windfarm will become the largest in the world, producing enough electricity to power six million British homes.
The DNV classed vessel , with 78 m long (loa) , a moulded beam of 19.5 metres, a loaded draught of 5.6 metres, a depth of 7.4 metres, with accommodation for 60 souls in single cabins. The propulsion arrangement includes four Yanmar 6EY22ALWS 1,300kW engines driving two Voith eVSP 26/230 propellers, two Kongsberg Maritime PMTT2000 bow tunnel thrusters, a Kongsberg Maritime TCNS075-M-170 drop-down azimuthing thruster, a Stamford S4L1M-C2 212kW emergency generator, and a Corvus Orca Energy 745kWh energy storage system.
Another key design element was to ensure efficient logistics. All the vessels have a height-adjustable, motion-compensated gangway with elevator system, a height-adjustable boat transfer system, as well as a 3D-compensated crane for cargo transfer.
She was built by the Norwegian shipyard Vard at its Vung Tau facilities in Vietnam as VARD 4 12 design and the the SOV’s design includes technician accommodation areas and facilities for parts storage and cargo handling. Space is also available for an Alicat Workboats hybrid electric daughter craft with seating for up to eight people and deck space for cargo totalling one tonne.
Homeported at Newcastle like her sisters she has been developed with North Star specifically to handle planned maintenance on the Dogger Bank A, B and C sites and tailored for effective and efficient operations in the harsh North Sea environment more than 130 kilometers off the north-east coast of England
GRAMPIAN TEES left breakwaters at 1343 hrs (1243 UTC) on Saturday 23rd December bound to Harwich, UK spending both Christmas & New Year at sea.
GRAMPIAN TEES was the second vessel from her class after GRAMPIAN TYNE to use Pinto 3 Wharf, part of Valletta Cruise Port.
Valletta Cruise Port – For more information about Valletta Cruise Port kindly visit their website – www.vallettacruiseport.com
