Bernhard Schulte Offshore Completes CSOV Quartet with ‘Windea Clarke’ Delivery

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Bernhard Schulte Offshore (BSO) has taken delivery of ‘Windea Clarke’, the fourth and final Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) in a newbuilding programme that more than doubles the German shipowner’s offshore fleet to seven units since mid-2025. The vessel was christened on 30 June at Ulstein Verft and will immediately enter a seasonal charter on a UK North Sea offshore wind project, the company said.

The completion of the quartet marks a significant fleet expansion for BSO at a time when demand for specialised offshore wind vessels is outpacing supply across European waters. CSOVs serve as floating hotels and work platforms during the construction, commissioning, and maintenance phases of offshore wind farms, with charter rates for quality tonnage under sustained upward pressure.

Matthias Müller, Managing Director of Bernhard Schulte Offshore, said the series strengthens the company’s ability to “deliver efficient and scalable services across construction, commissioning and maintenance phases to the global offshore energy industry.” He noted the vessels also “significantly reduce the environmental footprint” compared with older tonnage.

The four new CSOVs are based on Ulstein’s advanced vessel design and feature the TWIN X-STERN solution, which the Norwegian shipbuilder says improves manoeuvrability, reduces vessel motion, and cuts fuel consumption. Each unit is equipped with hybrid battery propulsion and has been designed for future conversion to methanol fuel.

‘Windea Clarke’ carries a DNV SILENT-E class notation, confirming compliance with defined limits for underwater radiated noise emissions. The classification is increasingly sought by charterers operating in environmentally sensitive waters and by developers facing stricter regulatory scrutiny of offshore construction impacts.

The vessel accommodates offshore personnel in single cabins and is fitted with a centrally positioned, height-adjustable walk-to-work gangway and elevator tower for safe transfers. A 3D motion-compensated crane supports offshore handling, while a height-adjustable boat-landing system enables transfers to smaller crew transfer vessels. A helideck provides additional crew-change flexibility.

The vessel is named after Edith Clarke, the pioneering electrical engineer whose contributions to power systems engineering remain foundational to modern grid infrastructure.

Gunvor Ulstein, CEO of Ulstein Group, described the delivery as marking “another milestone in our strong and valued partnership with Bernhard Schulte Offshore.” The Norwegian yard has benefited from sustained ordering activity in the offshore wind support sector, though delivery slots remain constrained by limited yard capacity across Northern Europe.

Industry analysts note that the addition of four modern, fuel-efficient CSOVs positions BSO to compete for longer-term charters as offshore wind developers scale up projects in the North Sea, Baltic, and emerging markets. The vessels’ methanol-ready design may prove advantageous as charterers face tightening emissions regulations under the EU Maritime Fuel Regulation and similar frameworks.

Bernhard Schulte Offshore did not disclose the charter terms or contract value for ‘Windea Clarke’s’ inaugural UK North Sea deployment.