Norwegian shipbuilder Ulstein Verft has delivered the new commissioning service operation vessel Windea Clarke to Bernhard Schulte Offshore, further expanding the company’s fleet of specialized vessels serving the offshore wind industry.

Delivered on July 2, 2026, Windea Clarke is the fourth and final vessel in Bernhard Schulte Offshore’s latest series of commissioning service operation vessels. The vessel was officially named at Ulstein Verft in Norway on June 30 and is scheduled to begin its first seasonal charter supporting an offshore wind project in the United Kingdom immediately after delivery.

The vessel is based on Ulstein’s SX222 design and incorporates the company’s distinctive TWIN X-STERN configuration. With optimized hull forms and propulsion systems at both ends of the vessel, the design allows the ship to select the most suitable operational direction according to wind, wave, and current conditions. This helps reduce vessel motions, improve maneuverability, and lower energy consumption during dynamic positioning and offshore wind farm operations.

Windea Clarke is equipped with a hybrid battery propulsion system and has been prepared for the future use of methanol fuel. It has also received DNV’s SILENT-E class notation, recognizing measures taken to reduce underwater radiated noise and limit the vessel’s environmental impact on marine ecosystems.

To support the construction, commissioning, and maintenance of offshore wind farms, the vessel features a centrally positioned, height-adjustable walk-to-work gangway, enabling technicians to transfer safely between the vessel and offshore installations. It is also equipped with a three-dimensional motion-compensated crane, an adjustable boat landing system, and a helideck.

These systems allow the vessel to provide accommodation, personnel transfer, equipment transportation, maintenance support, and logistical services during extended offshore operations. The integration of motion-compensated equipment is particularly important for maintaining safe and continuous operations under challenging sea conditions.

With the delivery of Windea Clarke, Bernhard Schulte Offshore has completed a four-vessel newbuilding programme that began adding vessels to its fleet in 2025. The company now operates seven specialized offshore service vessels, strengthening its capacity to support the rapidly expanding offshore wind energy sector.

Named after pioneering American electrical engineer and academic Edith Clarke, the vessel continues Bernhard Schulte Offshore’s tradition of naming its new ships after influential scientists. Other vessels in the series include Windea Curie, Windea Clausius, and Windea Carnot.

The delivery of Windea Clarke reflects the broader development of offshore wind service vessels toward lower-emission propulsion, improved seakeeping, advanced personnel transfer systems, and greater operational flexibility. Such vessels are becoming essential infrastructure for the construction and long-term maintenance of offshore wind farms worldwide.

Original Source: Ulstein Group

Image Credit: Ulstein Group

Original Link: https://ulstein.com/news/bernhard-schulte-offshore-expands-fleet-with-new-csov-from-ulstein?