UK offshore vessel owner North Star has completed the acquisition of four service operation vessels (SOVs) from Norway's Edda Wind. The transaction takes North Star's offshore wind fleet to 14 vessels, establishing it as the world's largest offshore infrastructure service provider by fleet size and charter backlog.
The acquisition comprises four high-specification SOVs — the Goelo Enabler, Boreas Enabler, Nordri Enabler and Sudri Enabler — together with all associated charter parties. A total of 160 offshore roles will continue to support these vessels, alongside North Star's existing operational teams. All four SOVs are currently deployed on offshore wind contracts.
The deal follows Norwind Offshore's recent acquisition of six CSOVs from Edda Wind, as the latter continues to reshape its asset portfolio by transferring offshore wind service tonnage to specialist operators. North Star added that its subsidiary NS Crewing has taken over contracts from Edda Wind's Crew Management AS arm, with existing seafaring personnel set to transfer to the new structure.
The company said the latest move complements its ongoing investment programme and accelerates consolidation in the European offshore wind segment between developers seeking long-term tonnage and operators with charter coverage. With the pace of European offshore wind project commissioning continuing, demand for SOV and CSOV tonnage is expected to remain strong in the coming years.
Key Takeaways:
1. North Star has acquired four SOVs from Edda Wind, taking its offshore wind fleet to 14 vessels.
2. The acquired vessels are the Goelo Enabler, Boreas Enabler, Nordri Enabler and Sudri Enabler.
3. The deal includes the existing charter parties and the 160 offshore roles supporting the four vessels.
4. Edda Wind earlier transferred six CSOVs to Norwind Offshore, restructuring its asset portfolio toward specialist operators.
5. With European offshore wind commissioning continuing, demand for SOV and CSOV tonnage is expected to remain strong in the coming years.
