First-of-Its-Kind Battery-First Offshore Wind Vessel Launched In Spain

UK-based maritime services company Bibby Marine hosted a grand launch event on Saturday, October 10, for the launch of its first-of-a-kind eCSOV (electric commissioning service operation vessel), Staffordshire. The event was held at the Armon Shipyard in Vigo, Spain.

The launch of this new battery-first eCSOV marks an assertive development in the technology of specialized offshore support vessels. Staffordshire is still undergoing outfitting, as well as battery-system installation, and is not ready for service as of now.

The vessel made its first entry into the water with the cutting of a ceremonial rope by Alice Bibby, a Bibby family member. The event was attended by many people, including Bibby family members, project partners, and Bibby Marine representatives. The formal naming ceremony of Staffordshire has been scheduled for 2027.

The key feature that sets this vessel apart from other conventional hybrid vessels is its battery-first propulsion system. This system is designed in a way in which onboard energy would serve as the primary source of propulsion power, unlike the typical system where other power sources are supplemented using batteries. The eCSOV’s unique propulsion system distinguishes it from common hybrid-assist designs.

In order to cope with the unavailability of offshore charging, the vessel is designed to retain its onboard generation capacity by using dual-fuel methanol engines to recharge its batteries. This system will enable full-fledged offshore operation even when favourable charging infrastructure is not present.

The vessel’s parent company is working in collaboration with Corvus Energy for its battery systems and Kongsberg for the vessel’s propulsion systems. Stillstrom is developing the offshore charging infrastructure compatibility section.
In self-charging mode, Staffordshire is estimated to reduce the operations costs by 40%.

Around £20 million has been funded by the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) programme of the UK for the whole project.

The chief executive of Bibby Line Group, Jonathan Lewis, said that the launch will be a significant step in the facilitation of efficient offshore operations. He also extended his credit to Bibby Marine, Armon Shipyard and project partners for the success of this project to this stage.

This vessel becomes the fifth addition to the Bibby fleet, while vessels bearing the same name sailed previously in 1894, 1929, 1950 and 1977. The name stands as a representation of the maritime heritage of the company as well as its contribution to extending the fleet’s history.

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