WINDEA Leibniz

Built as Service Operation Vessel (SOV) for offshore wind. The X-BOW and X-STERN hull lines improve the ability to stay positioned with little movement for safe transfer of technicians and equipment to the turbines. Upgrade to CSOV 2022/23: Increased accommodation, installation of adjustable gangway and an aft gangway.

Ship history

Delivered on 28 February 2017 and named at Ulstein Verft on 2 March by lady sponsor Dai Ling at ICBC Leasing. Yard number 310 from Ulstein Verft and X-BOW hull line design number 100 from Ulstein Group. Features the X-STERN solution for increased comfort, noise and vibrations when moving backwards in between the turbines at the wind farm. The vessel was one of the nominees for the 2017 Ship of the Year Award.

The usage of Service Operation Vessels (SOV) will improve the efficiency of service operations at offshore wind farms. The vessels function as reliable and environmentally sound platforms for wind farm operations and maintenance support, technician accommodation and transport, and the provision of exceptional levels of safe and reliable access to offshore installations.

The vessel's name honours the German mathematician, philosopher and physicist Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz, who in the 17th century proposed to use wind power to operate pumps. The vessel's first assignment was for Siemens Wind Power to service Vattenfall's offshore wind farms Sandbank and DanTysk in the German Bight and started in April 2017.

Matthias Müller, managing director at Bernhard Schulte Offshore, said:

"The vessel has the special X-STERN hull shape which allows to be positioned with the stern faced towards the weather instead of only with the bow. Her award-winning sister vessel Windea La Cour, which is working in the Dutch Gemini wind farm since August 2016, has already proven that this leads to improved weather resilience, greater operability and reduced power and fuel consumption while on DP mode next to the wind turbine."

Windea Leibniz is the sister vessel to Windea La Cour.

2022, 31 October - 4 February 2023: Upgrade from SOV to CSOV at Ulstein Verft

With an increase of cabins from 60 to over 80, the vessel has transitioned from an SOV to a CSOV. Additionally, the yard has installed one extra pedestal on the stern for Baltic Sea operations to complement the existing North Sea pedestal. Read more: Windea Leibniz upgrade has been completed - Ulstein

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