Aberdeen firm North Star to deliver vessels for what will be world’s largest offshore wind farm

Aberdeen firm North Star Renewables has been awarded contracts worth some £270 million to deliver a trio of “state-of-the-art” vessels to be used on what will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm.

The service operation vessels (SOVs) will be used on the 3.6-gigawatt Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the North Sea.

The firm is said to have fought off strong international competition to secure the deal to design and deliver the three-vessel service operation fleet for Dogger Bank, which is currently being built by joint venture partners Perth-headquartered SSE Renewables, Equinor and Eni.

North Star will create 130 full-time UK-based jobs in crewing and shore-based roles for the lifetime of the contract. Recruitment for the roles will start 12 months ahead of vessel delivery to Dogger Bank’s planned operations base in the Port of Tyne.

Aberdeen’s North Star Renewables is to design and deliver a service vessel fleet for Dogger Bank Wind Farm.

The new positions will be based across Scotland and the north east of England and will grow the company’s existing 1,400 strong workforce – 350 of which are in Scotland.

The firm will deliver the SOVs to Dogger Bank operator Equinor from summer 2023 and will be chartered to Dogger Bank by North Star for a ten-year period, with an option for three one-year extensions.

Matthew Gordon, North Star’s chief executive, said: “We are pleased and proud to establish a new relationship with Equinor and are looking forward to working collaboratively with them and their partners, SSE Renewables and Eni.

“We have been working with our existing energy clients in the North Sea for over 40 years, with an outstanding reputation for delivering and operating offshore emergency support vessels safely. We are now committed to building on the momentum of this contract award to further our diversification and firmly establish ourselves at the forefront of vessel design and delivery in the global renewables market.”

Steve Wilson, SSE Renewables project director for Dogger Bank, said: “The jobs that these contracts bring to Scotland, the north east and the UK are a welcome boost and all part of the role Dogger Bank is playing in the UK’s green recovery.

“When delivered, these state-of-the-art hybrid vessels will have a critical future role in ensuring the safe and efficient maintenance of the development when it reaches the operational phase.”

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