WINDEA La Cour

The godmother, Sophie Schulte, named the vessel in a ceremony in Hamburg on 30 June 2016. Poul la Cour was a Danish meteorologist and innovator for wind turbines. Contracted by Siemens Wind Power Service to ensure the production of green energy from 150 wind turbines in the Gemini wind farm in the Dutch part of the North Sea.

The usage of Service Operation Vessels (SOV) will improve the efficiency of service operations at offshore wind farms. The SOV operates as part accommodation vessel/hotel, part warehouse for tools and spare parts, and secures a safe transfer of technicians even in harsh weather conditions. The vessel is a reliable and environmentally sound platform for far-from-shore wind farm operations and maintenance support, technician accommodation and transport, and the provision of exceptional levels of safe, reliable access to installations offshore.

This is the first vessel equipped with the X-STERN, a stern derivative of the X-BOW. Both features lead to increased comfort for the technicians aboard due to reduced movements, vibrations and noise. The pointed aft and bow minimise slamming from head seas. A vessel featuring the X-STERN can be positioned with the stern facing the weather instead of the bow only, leading to improved weather resilience, greater operability, and reduced power and fuel consumption while in DP mode next to the wind turbine. Equipped with a motion-compensated gangway system (Uptime) to transfer technicians to the wind turbine.

"As the global leader in offshore wind service and the first company to deploy purpose-built SOVs, Siemens is dedicated to the development of innovative offshore service logistics that support efforts to bring down the costs associated with wind energy. The features on the vessel, such as the X-STERN hull, will help ensure our technicians have a safe and highly advanced accommodations and service vessel from which to base their offshore operations at Gemini."

René Cornelis Wigmans, Head of Maritime and Aviation Solutions, Siemens Wind Power Service.

2017: Received the Offshore Renewables Award. After 12 months of service, BS Offshore gives the following feedback:
 

"The X-STERN is a big advantage for the daily operation. Since it enables the vessel to run fast and efficient backwards, the vessel can choose the fastest way to the next turbine either it is going with the bow or the stern first.
During the last 12 months the first X-STERN has met all expectations and it is amazing to see a vessel going backwards in bad weather without slamming and having spray on deck."

2018: Feedback from the senior DP officer: Hard rocker at work

Where is the vessel now: IMO 9769025