North Star Christens Its First CSOV At VARD’s Shipyard In Norway

The operator of the largest UK-owned fleet of vessels, North Star, has delivered and named its first commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV), Grampian Kestrel, at a special ceremony held on Tuesday, 6 May, at VARD’s Langsten shipyard in Tomrefjord, Norway.

The Grampian Kestrel is the first of two CSOVs scheduled for delivery in 2025 and is part of North Star’s broader efforts to expand its renewable energy support fleet.

This new CSOV has been designed to provide full-service support throughout the life cycle of offshore wind farms. It is set to operate with German energy firm EnBW, initially assisting with construction and commissioning activities.

Later, it will handle operations and maintenance for the He Dreiht wind farm in the North Sea. This service will continue until EnBW receives its newbuild SOV, expected in the third quarter of 2026, which is based on the VARD 407 design.

The Grampian Kestrel is built on the VARD 4 22 design and developed in collaboration with Vard Design in Ålesund, Norway. It features cutting-edge hybrid propulsion technology that is ready for methanol use, as well as improved accommodation with more single cabins that offer hotel-like living standards for onboard technicians.

The vessel includes a high-performance daughter craft and room for a second one, depending on client needs. It has also become the first in the world to receive the Cyber Resilience classification from Lloyd’s Register.

According to North Star, the ship is equipped with modern technology, including digital twins, dynamic positioning software, and control systems connected to Voith Schneider propulsion units. These features are designed to improve performance, ensure safety at sea, and support the well-being of the crew.

North Star’s CEO, Gitte Gard Talmo, shared that the Grampian Kestrel represents a big step toward the company’s goal of becoming a top service vessel provider in Europe. She highlighted that the ship is capable of supporting every stage of an offshore wind farm and credited the dedicated North Star crew for delivering reliable services.

Talmo added that the vessel’s cyber certification was achieved through strong collaboration with VARD, and that working together across the industry is essential to delivering high-quality results. She said the company is proud to deliver a future-ready vessel for its client EnBW.

North Star’s Chief Technology Officer, James Bradford, explained that the company has heavily invested in digital capabilities for its renewable fleet. The technologies onboard the Grampian Kestrel allow for precise monitoring, automated operations, and increased safety.

The naming ceremony was attended by representatives from North Star, VARD, EnBW, and other stakeholders. The godmother of the vessel was named as Indu Vaidya, a board member at North Star and a Member of Management at Partners Group.

Partners Group is a major global private markets firm and one of North Star’s key investors. The investment group has helped North Star grow by launching a transformation plan aimed at expanding its European platform, growing its wind vessel fleet, and offering more renewable energy services.

Vaidya played an important role in the naming ceremony, which also included a traditional blessing. Her firm’s backing has helped North Star invest heavily in fleet development over the past three years.

So far, North Star has invested £270 million to support its ambition of building 40 offshore wind vessels by the year 2040.

The company’s fleet now includes eight vessels, both operational and under construction. North Star has hired 160 experienced seafarers and plans to recruit another 160 within the next three years to meet its contract demands.

VARD CEO Cathrine K. Marti congratulated North Star and said the Grampian Kestrel was specifically designed to meet the company’s strategic goals. She added that the vessel is built for long-term use, offering efficiency, comfort, and flexibility from day one.

Reference: North Sea

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