Launch CSOV
Bibby Marine launched its new first-of-a-kind electric commissioning service operation vessel (eCSOV) at Armon Shipyard in Vigo, Spain.
The vessel, which will carry the name Staffordshire, entered the water at an event attended by members of the Bibby family and senior Bibby Line Group representatives.
Staffordshire is a name with deep roots in the Bibby fleet, and this will be the fifth vessel to carry it. The vessel follows ships that sailed in 1894, 1929, 1950 and 1977, each one marking a new chapter in the company’s history.
The new eCSOV has been designed to revolutionise wind farm operations – supporting offshore operations with modern capabilities, efficiency and comfort for those working on board.
The eCSOV is designed around battery-first propulsion, with its energy storage system acting as the primary source of power rather than a supplementary one. This represents a distinction from the hybrid-assist designs more common across the sector. Bibby Marine has partnered with Kongsberg and Corvus Energy on the vessel’s propulsion and battery systems, and is working with Stillstrom to develop compatibility for offshore charging.
Bibby Marine estimates this approach can cut vessel operating costs by more than 40% in self-charging mode, rising to around 70% once the eCSOV is able to operate on offshore charging alone. The project has previously been supported by £20 million in funding from Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI).
The eCSOV forms part of a wider industry push to decarbonise offshore wind support vessels, backed by the growing global build-out of offshore wind capacity.
