Bernhard Schulte Offshore (BSO) has taken delivery of its latest commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV), Windea Curie, built at Ulstein Verft in Norway. On June 26, the vessel was officially delivered and commenced operations under contract with TenneT, a leading offshore transmission system operator in the EU, supporting offshore grid connections in the North Sea.
Windea Curie is built with Ulstein TWIN X-STERN technology, featuring dual sterns and azimuth thrusters at both the bow and stern, ensuring excellent maneuverability, reduced fuel consumption, and high efficiency during dynamic positioning (DP) operations, even in harsh weather conditions. This technology minimizes vessel motions, enhancing safety during gangway operations and allowing technicians to rest effectively between shifts.
Onboard features include a large, centrally located, motion-compensated, adjustable-height gangway, a 3D motion-compensated crane with a 5-ton lifting capacity, and a lift tower for personnel and cargo transfers. The vessel also offers spacious storage areas and optimized logistics for smooth approaches to offshore installations.
Key specifications of Windea Curie:
• Length: 89.6 m
• Beam: 19.2 m
• 111 cabins accommodating up to 132 people
• 90 cabins with windows for charter personnel
• Hybrid battery power system prepared for methanol use to enable low-emission operations.
The vessel is named after Marie Curie, a two-time Nobel Prize-winning physicist and chemist, continuing BSO’s tradition of naming vessels after notable scientists (including Windea La Cour, Windea Leibniz, and Windea Jules Verne).
Currently, a sister vessel to the Windea Curie is under construction at Ulstein Verft, with delivery scheduled for August 2025. This will expand BSO’s fleet to five CSOVs, each offering operational flexibility and designed to support the offshore wind market and construction activities, particularly in challenging weather and sea conditions.
