The British shipping company North Star is expanding its fleet: the newbuilding “Grampian Kestrel” has been christened in Norway.
The ship, built by Vard, is the first of two CSOVs to be delivered to North Star this year. The charterer is the German energy company EnBW.
The christening of the CSOV (Commissioning Service Operation Vessel) took place on May 6 at the shipyard in Tomrefjord, Norway. The design of the Vard 4 22 was developed in close cooperation with Vard Design in Ålesund. It includes methanol-capable hybrid propulsion solutions and an increased number of individual cabins for technicians. The ship also includes a high-performance daughter ship with space for a second ship.
The “Grampian Kestrel” will enter service with EnBW and precedes a ten-year minimum charter contract signed by the company in 2024 to provide an SOV (of type VARD 407) for the German energy supplier’s He Dreiht wind farm in the North Sea. The vessel will be able to “support all aspects of the life cycle of this wind farm” and will provide the necessary accommodation and logistics for construction and commissioning. It will then manage EnBW’s operations and maintenance activities until the new SOV is delivered in the third quarter of 2026.
Cyber resilience classification for North Star
“The Grampian Kestrel marks another milestone in our strategy to make North Star a leading SOV provider in Europe,” said Gitte Gard Talmo, CEO of North Star.” They are proud to christen a vessel that sets new industry standards. The CSOV is the first vessel in the world to achieve Lloyd’s Register’s Cyber Resilience classification. “This certification underlines our commitment to being a safe and reliable partner – for our employees, our customers and the entire offshore wind industry.”
James Bradford, North Star’s Chief Technology Officer, said: “As part of its digital capabilities, North Star has invested significantly in advanced automation and innovative solutions across its renewable energy fleet. These are essential for performance monitoring and safe vessel operation. These include technologies such as digital twins, dynamic positioning software and the complex control systems of Voith Schneider drives. They all serve to ensure operational safety and the well-being of the crew.”
“This vessel and its world-first accreditation were achieved in collaboration with Vard Ship Design,” continued CEO Talmo. “At North Star, we know that industry collaboration is key to success and we are very much looking forward to providing our services to our client EnBW.”
Over the last three years, North Star has invested £270 million (approx. €317 million) towards its goal of building 40 offshore wind power vessels by 2040. The fleet currently comprises eight vessels, including those under construction. The shipping company has also recruited 160 seafarers to support its SOV fleet, with a further 160 to follow over the next three years.
The naming of the Grampian Kestrel was attended by representatives from North Star, Fincantieri subsidiary Vard, EnBW and other key stakeholders. The ship was christened by Indu Vaidya, Member of the Board of North Star and Member of the Executive Committee of Partners Group. Partners Group’s investment played a key role in North Star’s growth, the shipping company said.
“On behalf of everyone at Vard, I would like to congratulate North Star on their new state-of-the-art vessel,” said shipyard CEO Cathrine K. Marti. “She is designed for efficiency, comfort and flexibility – and future-proofed from day one.”
