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Hamburg-based Windward Offshore has officially welcomed its first Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV), Windward Athens, marking the company’s operational entry into the offshore wind sector.
The vessel, ordered from Fincantieri’s Norwegian subsidiary Vard in October 2023, was delivered on schedule from Vard’s Brattvaag shipyard after successful sea trials last month. Its handover represents a major milestone for Windward Offshore as it begins building a dedicated CSOV fleet.
Built to the Vard 4 19 design, Windward Athens is an 87.5-meter-long, 19.5-meter-wide vessel capable of accommodating up to 120 people. It is equipped with advanced features tailored for offshore wind installation, commissioning, and maintenance work. These include a motion-compensated gangway, next-generation crane systems, and hybrid propulsion technology that is prepared for future operations on green methanol.
“This delivery is a defining moment for Windward Offshore,” said managing director Dr. Benjamin Vordemfelde. “Windward Athens stands as proof of the dedication of our team and the professionalism of Vard and our equipment partners. As the first vessel in our fleet, she sets the benchmark for the high-quality, reliable services we intend to deliver to the offshore wind industry.”
The vessel is currently being prepared for its maiden charter, which will commence immediately and support major offshore wind projects in Europe. “We are proud to start operations directly after delivery, working with RWE as a leading global offshore wind developer, and in collaboration with North Star Renewables,” added managing director Bastian Hagebeuker. “Naming the vessel Windward Athens pays tribute to one of our founding shareholders and symbolizes the strong partnerships driving our growth.”
Windward Offshore is a consortium spearheaded by the Rickmers family’s SeaRenergy Group, part of Asian Spirit Steamship Company. The consortium also includes Blue Star Group GmbH & Cie. KG, Athens-based dry bulk specialist Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), and SeraVerse GmbH.
In addition to Windward Athens, three sister CSOVs—Windward Paris, Windward Munich, and Windward Hamburg—are currently under construction. Together, these vessels will form one of the most modern service fleets in the offshore wind market, enabling Windward Offshore to deliver integrated solutions across the entire offshore wind lifecycle.
