Last April 2023 the North Star Group Hybrid Electric Service Operation Vessel (SOV), the first vessel in a series of four – GRAMPIAN TYNE called at Grand Harbour, Malta berthing at MMH Facilities for crew change, uplifting bunkers and stores/provisions.
The DNV classed vessel with 79.9 metres loa, a moulded beam of 19 metres, a loaded draught of 5.6 metres, a depth of 7.4 metres, has accommodations for 21 crewmembers and 39 technicians and other personnel. 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.
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.
She will be deployed at the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm in UK waters, where she will perform operations and maintenance duties.
The occupants are housed in 60 single cabins with en suite toilets. Other facilities include four day rooms, four offices, two conference rooms including one with an auditorium, a gym, a mess, three wardrobe areas, and an internal warehouse with an area of 510 square metres, boat landing access, and side loading cargo capability. Another 330 square metres of space is available on the vessel’s open deck for transporting other cargo.
And on Saturday 8th April, 2023 afternoon, she was seen leaving Grand Harbour bound for the North Sea.
